Naturally-Occurring CpG Oligonucleotide Compositions and Therapeutic Applications Thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to combination therapies for the treatment of a variety of disorders in mammals, including hepatic disorders and cancer. The combination of agents includes naturally-occurring (versus synthetic) oligonucleotides, particularly immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotides such as CpG ODNs, obtained from a natural source and one or more extracts from a Gram positive bacteria, such as  Lactobacillus  spp.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent applicationSer. No. 61/704,090, filed Sep. 21, 2012, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The inventions disclosed and taught herein relate generally tocombinations and methods of treating disorders in mammals, particularlyhumans. In particular, this invention provides combination therapies andtreatment regimens for the treatment of hepatic disorders and humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV) using a naturally-occurringimmunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide and a cell-wall fraction of agram positive bacteria.

2. Description of the Related Art

A traditional approach to treating hepatic disorders, as well as anumber of other viral disorders in mammals, is to target the virusitself with therapy, such as with virus specific chemotherapeuticagents. An alternative approach to treating such disorders is to targetthe immune system of the subject (“immunotherapy”), rather than, or inaddition to, targeting the virus itself. A potential benefit ofimmunotherapy is to provide improved efficacy by enhancing the patient'sown immune response to tumors while minimizing deleterious effects tonormal, healthy cells.

Bacterial DNA has immune stimulatory effects to activate B cells andnatural killer cells [Tokunaga, T., et al., 1988. Jpn. J. Cancer Res.79:682-686; Tokunaga, T., et al., 1984, JNCI 72:955-962; Messina, J. P.,et al., 1991, J. Immunol. 147:1759-1764, and reviewed in Krieg, 1998,In: Applied Oligonucleotide Technology, C. A. Stein and A. M. Krieg,(Eds.), John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., pp. 431-448]. Theimmune stimulatory effects of bacterial DNA are a result of the presenceof unmethylated CpG dinucleotides in particular base contexts (CpGmotifs), which are common in bacterial DNA, but methylated andunderrepresented in vertebrate DNA [Krieg et al, Nature, Vol. 374, pp.546-549 (1995); Krieg, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 93321:1-10 (1999)]. Theimmune stimulatory effects of bacterial DNA can be mimicked withsynthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing these CpG motifs(referred to interchangeably hereinbelow as “CpG ODNs” or“immunostimulatory ODNs”). Such CpG ODNs have been shown to have highstimulatory effects on a number of mammalian biological functions,inducing B cell proliferation, cytokine and immunoglobulin secretion,natural killer (NK) cell lytic activity, IFN-γ secretion, and activationof dendritic cells (DCs) and other antigen presenting cells to expresscostimulatory molecules and secrete cytokines, especially the Th1-likecytokines that are important in promoting the development of Th1-like Tcell responses. The immune stimulatory effects of native phosphodiesterbackbone CpG ODN are highly CpG specific in that the effects aredramatically reduced if the CpG motif is methylated, changed to a GpC,or otherwise eliminated or altered [see, Krieg, et al, Nature, Vol. 374,pp. 546-549 (1995); Hartmann, et al, 1999 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,Vol. 96, pp. 9305-9310 (1999)].

It was previously thought that the immune stimulatory effects requiredthe CpG motif in the context of apurine-purine-CpG-pyrimidine-pyrimidine sequence [Krieg, et al., Nature,Vol. 374, pp. 546-549 (1995); Pisetsky, J. Immunol., Vol. 156, pp.421-423 (1996); Hacker, et al., EMBO J., Vol. 17, pp. 6230-6240 (1998);Lipford, et al., Trends in Microbiol. 6:496-500 (1998)]. However, it isnow clear that mouse lymphocytes respond quite well to phosphodiesterCpG motifs not in this context [Yi, et al., J. Immunol. Vol. 160, pp.5898-5906 (1998)] and the same is true of human B cells and dendriticcells [Hartmann, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 96, pp. 9305-10(1999)].

One class of GpG ODN is potent for activating B cells but is relativelyweak in inducing IFN-alpha and NK cell activation; this class has beentermed the B class. The B class CpG oligonucleotides typically are fullystabilized and include an unmethylated CpG dinucleotide within certainpreferred base contexts. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,194,388; 6,214,806;6,239,116; and 6,339,068.

It has also been shown that T cell-mediated hepatic damage plays a keyrole in the pathogenesis of liver diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis,viral hepatitis and acute liver failure [Becker, Y., Virus Genes, Vol.30 (2), pp. 251-266 (2005)]. CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides (CpGODN), a ligand for toll-like receptor (TLR) 9, is is widely used as animmunological adjuvant, and several groups have reported on the resultsof their investigations of the effect of CpG ODN on T cell-mediatedliver injury in murine models of hepatitis and other diseases. It hasalso been shown that the activation of inflammatory cells can bediminished by CpG ODN pretreatment. These results suggested that CpG ODNpretreatment protects from liver injury via inhibiting hepatocyteapoptosis, inflammation and activation of lymphocytes [Zhang, H., etal., Int. Immunopharmacol., Vol. 10(1), pp. 79-85 (2010)].

Although the individual use of CpG ODNs to induce therapeutic responsehold great promise in the treatment of a number of disorders inpatients, there remains a need to develop novel therapies to treat suchdisorders with such immunotherapeutic approaches.

The inventions disclosed and taught herein are directed to therapies andtreatment regimens for the treatment of hepatic disorders, cancer, lymedisease, and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well ascompositions for such methods of treatment using a naturally-occurringimmunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide and a cell-wall fraction of agram positive bacteria.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects described above and other advantages and features of theinvention are incorporated in the application as set forth herein, andthe associated appendices and drawings, related to systems for the useof combination therapies and treatment regimens for the treatment ofimmune diseases and disorders, including hepatic disorders, cancer, andhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disorders, as well as cancerdisorders, using a naturally-occurring immunostimulatoryoligodeoxynucleotide and a cell-wall fraction of at least one grampositive bacteria.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure, amethod of treating or preventing one or more disorders in a patient inneed of such treatment is described, wherein the method comprises (a) atherapeutic regimen comprising administering to the patient,simultaneously, semi-simultaneously, separately or sequentially atherapeutically effective amount of one or more naturally-occurring CpGOGNs in combination with a therapeutically effective amount of one ormore gram-positive bacterial lysates; and, optionally (b) administeringto the patient a maintenance regimen comprising a maintenance dose of aCpG OGN, a gram-positive bacterial lysate, or a combination thereof. Inan exemplary embodiment, the CpG ODN is a naturally occurring CpG ODN,which in accordance with certain aspects of the disclosure, comes fromthe gram-positive bacterial lysate. In further aspects of thedisclosure, the therapeutic regimen may further include atherapeutically effective amount of a synthetic CpG ODN, or a CpG ODNfrom a source separate from the bacterial lysate.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure, acomposition for use in treating or preventing one or more disorders in apatient in need of such treatment is described, wherein the compositioncomprises a therapeutically effective amount of a bacterial cell-walllysate or fraction, and a therapeutically effective amount of anaturally-occurring CpG ODN.

In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, compositions fordelivery of a therapeutic agent across the mucosa of a subject for thetreatment of a hepatic disorder in the subject are described, thecomposition comprising (a) a lysate or cell wall extract derived from orisolated from one or more gram-positive bacteria, or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof; and (b) a naturally-occurring immunostimulatoryoligodeoxynucleotide (ODN); wherein the cell wall lysate and the ODN arepresent in an amount effective to treat an immune disorder. Inaccordance with aspects of this embodiment, the composition is a dietarysupplement.

In accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure,compositions for the treatment of complications of a hepatic disorder ina subject suffering from one or more hepatic disorders are described,the composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of alysate or cell wall extract derived from or isolated from one or moregram-positive bacteria, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;and at least one Toll Like receptor (TLR) 9 agonist, the gram-positivebacteria being selected from the Lactobacillus family of bacteria. Inaccordance with aspects of this embodiment, the TLR 9 agonist is a CpGoligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN). In further accordance with aspects ofthis embodiment, the CpG ODN is naturally-occurring within the bacteriallysate.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, methods of inducing animmune response to a tumor in a subject are described, the methodcomprising selecting a subject with a tumor; and administering to thesubject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising(a) a lysate or cell wall extract derived from or isolated from one ormore gram-positive bacteria, or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof; and (b) a naturally-occurring CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN),thereby inducing the immune response to the tumor in the subject. Inaccordance with select aspects of this embodiment, thenaturally-occurring CpG oligodeoxynucleotide is derived from a bacteriallysate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures form part of the present specification and areincluded to further demonstrate certain aspects of the presentinvention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one ormore of these figures in combination with the detailed description ofspecific embodiments presented herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary, generic structure of a CpG ODN suitablefor use in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates various CpG motifs and their effects on the innateand adaptive immune systems.

FIG. 3 illustrates a graph of exemplary stimulatory effects of acomposition of the present invention on select TLR/NLR cell lines; thevalues in the graph correspond to an average of screenings 1-3.

FIG. 4 illustrates a graph of stimulatory effects of control and samplecompositions of the present invention against NF-κB control cells; thevalues in the graph correspond to an average of screenings 1-3.

FIG. 5 illustrates the results of the Human TLR/NLR Ligand screening.

FIG. 6 illustrates the results of the NF-κB Control Cell screening.

While the inventions disclosed herein are susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, only a few specific embodimentshave been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described indetail below. The figures and detailed descriptions of these specificembodiments are not intended to limit the breadth or scope of theinventive concepts or the appended claims in any manner. Rather, thefigures and detailed written descriptions are provided to illustrate theinventive concepts to a person of ordinary skill in the art and toenable such person to make and use the inventive concepts.

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions are provided in order to aid those skilled inthe art in understanding the detailed description of the presentinvention. Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technicalterms used in connection with the present invention shall have themeanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in theart. Further, unless otherwise required by context, singular terms shallinclude pluralities and plural terms shall include the singular.Generally, nomenclatures used in connection with, and techniques of,cell and tissue culture, molecular biology, immunology, microbiology,genetics and protein and nucleic acid chemistry and hybridizationdescribed herein are those well-known and commonly used in the art.

The methods and techniques of the present invention are generallyperformed according to methods well known in the art and as described invarious general and more specific references that are cited anddiscussed throughout the present specification unless otherwiseindicated. Such references include, e.g., Sambrook and Russell,Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Approach, Cold Spring Harbor Press, ColdSpring Harbor, N.Y. (2001), Ausubel, et al., Current Protocols inMolecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY (2002), and Harlow and LaneAntibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press,Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1990), which are incorporated herein byreference. Enzymatic reactions and purification techniques are performedaccording to manufacturer's specifications, as commonly accomplished inthe art or as described herein. The nomenclatures used in connectionwith, and the laboratory procedures and techniques of, analyticalchemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, and medicinal and pharmaceuticalchemistry described herein are those well-known and commonly used in theart. Standard techniques are used for chemical syntheses, chemicalanalyses, pharmaceutical preparation, formulation, and delivery, andtreatment of patients.

As used herein, the term “CpG motif” means a nucleotide sequence whichcontains unmethylated cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (that is, acytosine (C) followed by a guanine (G)) linked by a phosphate bond, or aphosphodiester backbone. These motifs are also referred to equivalentlyas “unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotide”) and activatesa biological response, such as an immune response.

As used herein, the term “CpG oligodeoxynucleotide” (referred to as “CpGODN” hereafter) means an oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) comprising at leasttwo of the above CpG motifs. Such CpG ODN's may be class-A (Type D),class-B (Type K), class-C, class P, or class S, as appropriate.

In particular, several different classes of CpG oligonucleotides haverecently been described. One class contains poly G motifs at one or bothends, and has been termed the A-class. One class is potent foractivating B cells but is relatively weak in inducing IFN-α and NK cellactivation; this class has been termed the B class. The B class CpGoligonucleotides are typically fully stabilized and include anunmethylated CpG dinucleotide within certain preferred base contexts.See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,194,388; 6,207,646; 6,214,806; 6,218,371;6,239,116; and 6,339,068. Another class of CpG oligonucleotidesactivates B cells and NK cells and induces IFN-α; this class has beentermed the C-class. The C-class CpG oligonucleotides, as firstcharacterized, are typically fully stabilized; they include a Bclass-type sequence and a GC-rich palindrome or near-palindrome. Thisclass has been described in International Patent Publication Number WO03/015711. The A-Class oligonucleotides can form very complex higherordered structures such as nanoparticles [Kerkmann, et al., J. Biol.Chem. 280(9):8086-93 (2005)], and the C-Class may form intermolecularduplexes or hairpins. Recently, a new sub-class of CpG oligonucleotides,that contain duplex forming regions such as, for example, perfect orimperfect palindromes at or near both the 5′ and 3′ ends, giving themthe potential to form concatamers, have been described; see, e.g., U.S.Patent Publication No. 2008/0045473A1. These oligonucleotides referredto as P-Class oligonucleotides have the ability in some instances toinduce much high levels of IFN-α secretion than the C-Class. The P-Classoligonucleotides have the ability to spontaneously self-assemble intoconcatamers either in vitro and/or in vivo. FIG. 2 (taken from Vollmer,J., et al., Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, Vol. 61(3), pp. 195-204(2009)) illustrates various CpG motifs and their effects on the innateand adaptive immune systems.

The phrase “pharmaceutical composition” refers to a formulation of acompound and a medium generally accepted in the art for the delivery ofthe biologically active compound to mammals, e.g., humans. Such a mediumincludes all pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents orexcipients therefore.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient”as used herein includes without limitation any adjuvant, carrier,excipient, glidant, sweetening agent, diluent, preservative,dye/colorant, flavor enhancer, surfactant, wetting agent, dispersingagent, suspending agent, stabilizer, isotonic agent, solvent, oremulsifier which has been approved by the United States Food and DrugAdministration as being acceptable for use in humans or domesticanimals.

By the term “effective amount”, or “therapeutically effective amount,”as used herein, is meant an amount that when administered to a mammal,preferably a human, mediates a detectable therapeutic response comparedto the response detected in the absence of the compound. A therapeuticresponse, such as, but not limited to, increased overall survival,inhibition of and/or decreased tumor growth (including tumor sizestasis), tumor size, metastasis, and the like, can be readily assessedby a plethora of art-recognized methods, including, e.g., such methodsas disclosed herein.

The skilled artisan would understand that the effective amount of theCpG ODN, compound or composition administered herein varies and can bereadily determined based on a number of factors such as the disease orcondition being treated, the stage of the disease, the age and healthand physical condition of the mammal being treated, the severity of thedisease, the particular CpG ODN compound being administered, and thelike.

The term “therapeutically effective amount”, as used herein, the doseadministered to an animal, such as a mammal, in particular a human,should be sufficient to prevent the targeted disease or disorder, e.g.,cancer, delay its onset, slow its progression, or treat the disease ordisorder (e.g., reverse or negate the condition). One skilled in the artwill recognize that dosage will depend upon a variety of factorsincluding the strength of the particular composition employed, as wellas the age, species, condition, and body weight of the animal. The sizeof the dose will also be determined by the route, timing, and frequencyof administration as well as the existence, nature, and extent of anyadverse side-effects that might accompany the administration of aparticular composition and the desired physiological effect.

“Biological active agent”, as used herein, refers to any amino acid,peptide, protein, or antibody (including chimeric, monoclonal, isolated,or humanized antibodies), natural or synthetic, which exhibits atherapeutically useful effect. Such biologically active agents mayinclude recombinant proteins, enzymes, peptoids, or PNAs, as well ascombinations of such agents.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable” or“pharmacologically-acceptable” refers to compositions that do notproduce an allergic or similar unexpected reaction when administered toa human or animal in a medical or veterinary setting.

As used herein, to “prevent” means inhibiting the onset or developmentof symptoms of a disease (i.e., tumor growth and/or metastasis, or othereffect mediated by the numbers and/or activity of immune cells, and thelike) experienced by a patient.

The term includes the administration of the CpG ODN, compounds or agentsof the present invention to inhibit or delay the onset of the symptoms,complications, or biochemical indicia of a disease (e.g., elevation ofPSA level in prostate cancer).

The term “ligand” as used herein means a molecular group that isassociated with a central metal atom. The terms bidentate (ordidentate), tridentate, tetradentate, and multidentate are used toindicate the number of potential binding sites of the ligand. Forexample, a carboxylic acid can be a bidentate or other multidentateligand because it has at least two binding sites, the carboxyloxygen andhydroxyloxygen. In like manner, an amide has at least two binding sites,the carboxyloxygen and the nitrogen atom. An amino sugar can have atleast two binding sites and many amino sugars will have multiple bindingsites including the amino nitrogen, a hydroxyloxygen, an etherealoxygen, an aldehyde carbonyl, and/or a ketone carbonyl.

The term “amino sugar” as used herein refers to monosaccharides havingone alcoholic hydroxyl group (commonly but not necessarily in the‘2-position’) replaced by an amino group, systematically known asx-deoxy-x-monosaccharides. By way of non-limiting example, D-glucosamineor 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose is an amino sugar. Other illustrativeamino sugars include but are not limited to erythrosamine, threosamine,ribosamine, arabinosamine, xylosamine, lyxosamine, allosamine,altrosamine, glucosamine, mannosamine, idosamine, galactosamine,talosamine, and their derivatives, all of which are suitable for usewithin the compositions of the present disclosure. The amino sugarsinclude both aldose and ketose sugars. Additionally, the amino sugarsmay be of a straight-chain structure; however, the aldehyde or ketonegroup of the amino sugar may react with a hydroxyl group on a differentcarbon atom to form a hemiacetal or hemiketal, in which case there is anoxygen bridge between the two carbon atoms, forming a heterocyclic ring.Amino sugar rings with five and six atoms are called furanose andpyranose forms, respectively and exist in equilibrium with theircorresponding straight-chain form. It should be noted that the ring formhas one more optically active carbon than the straight-chain form, andso has both an α- and a β-form, which interconvert in equilibrium. Theterm “amino sugar” also means glycosylamines, amino sugars where thenitrogen is substituted with a functional group other than H.Illustrative, non-limiting examples of glycosylamines includeN-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-methylglucosamine.

The term “glycosaminoglycans” as used herein means any of any of a groupof polysaccharides that contain amino sugars. Glycosaminoglycans canalso form complexes with proteins.

The terms “hydrate” or “n-hydrate” as used herein means a molecularentity with some degree of hydration, where n is an integer representingthe number of waters of hydration, e.g., monohydrate, dihydrate,trihydrate, tetrahydrate, pentahydrate, hexahydrate, septahydrate,octahydrate, nonahydrate, etc.

The compositions of the present invention may be prepared forpharmaceutical administration by methods and with excipients generallyknown in the art, such as described in Remington's PharmaceuticalSciences [Troy, David B., Ed.; Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 21stEdition, (2005)].

“Treating” or “treatment” as used herein covers the treatment of thedisease or condition of interest, e.g., tissue injury, in a mammal,preferably a human, having the disease or condition of interest, as wellas prophylactic, or suppressive measures for the disease or disorder andincludes: (i) preventing the disease or condition from occurring in amammal, in particular, when such mammal is predisposed to the conditionbut has not yet been diagnosed as having it; (ii) inhibiting the diseaseor condition, i.e., arresting its development; (iii) relieving thedisease or condition, i.e., causing regression of the disease orcondition; or (iv) relieving the symptoms resulting from the disease orcondition. Thus, for example, the term “treatment” includes theadministration of an agent prior to or following the onset of a diseaseor disorder, thereby preventing or removing all signs of the disease ordisorder. As another example, administration of the agent after clinicalmanifestation of the disease to combat the symptoms of the diseasecomprises “treatment” of the disease. Further, administration of theagent after onset and after clinical symptoms have developed whereadministration affects clinical parameters of the disease or disorder,such as the degree of tissue injury or the amelioration of the disease,comprises “treatment” of the disease.

The phrase “in need of treatment” includes mammals, such as humans, oranimals, already having the disease or disorder, including those inwhich the disease or disorder is to be prevented.

As used herein, the terms “disease,” “disorder,” and “condition” may beused interchangeably or may be different in that the particular maladyor condition may not have a known causative agent (so that etiology hasnot yet been worked out) and it is therefore not yet recognized as adisease but only as an undesirable condition or syndrome, wherein a moreor less specific set of symptoms have been identified by clinicians.

As used herein, the expressions “agent”, “composition”, and “antagonist”are used interchangeably within the scope of the present disclosure, andare meant to include any molecule or substance which results in atherapeutic effect when administered to a subject suffering from alymphatic disorder.

The term “iatrogenic disorder”, as used herein, refers to thosedisorders induced by exposure to a therapeutic compound intended totreat some other disorder. Examples of drug induced liver diseases ordisorders include, for example, chronic active hepatitis associated withthe administration of Amineptine, Clometacine, Dantrolene, Diclofenac,and Fenofibrate to name a few; chronic cholestasis associated with theadministration of Aceprometazine, Ajmaline and related drugs,Amitryptyline, and Ampicillin to name but a few; or hepatic granulomasassociated with the administration of Allopurinal, Aspirin, andDiazepam. In this context, reference can be made to Tables 14.8, 14.10and 14.11 of “MacSween's Pathology of the Liver, 5th Ed.” [(Burt,Portman, and Ferrell, Eds.), Churchill Livingstone (2007), in Ch. 14,“Hepatic Injury Due to Drugs, Chemicals and Toxins” by Lewis, J. H. andKleiner, D. E., pp. 649-759], the disclosure of which is incorporated inrelevant part herein by reference.

The term “water-insoluble” encompasses the terms sparinglywater-soluble, slightly or very slightly water-soluble, as well aspractically or totally water-insoluble compounds [see, Remington: TheScience and Practice of Pharmacy, vol. I, 194-195 (Gennaro, Ed., 1995)].As used herein, a compound is water-insoluble for the purposes of thisinvention if it requires at least 30 parts solvent (e.g., water orsaline) to dissolve one part solute (Id.). In accordance with thepresent disclosure, the term “water-insoluble” also encompasses oil- orlipid-soluble, as well as substantially oil- or lipid soluble.

Except as otherwise specifically provided or clear from the context, theterm “compounds” of the invention should be construed as including the“pharmaceutically acceptable salts” thereof as appropriate (whichexpression has been eliminated in certain instances for the sake ofbrevity).

As used herein, the term “%” when used without qualification (as withw/v, v/v, or w/w) means % weight-in-volume for solutions of solids inliquids (w/v), % weight-in-volume for solutions of gases in liquids(w/v), % volume-in-volume for solutions of liquids in liquids (v/v) andweight-in-weight for mixtures of solids and semisolids (w/w), such asdescribed in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences [Troy, David B., Ed.;Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 21st Edition, (2005)].

The terms “patient” and “subject”, as used herein, are usedinterchangeably and refer generally to a mammal, and more particularlyto human, ape, monkey, rat, pig, dog, rabbit, cat, cow, horse, mouse,sheep and goat. In accordance with this definition, lung surfaces ormembranes described and referenced in accordance with this disclosurerefer to those of a mammal, preferably a human or an animal testsubject.

As used herein, “enhancing” and/or “providing relief” with respect tothe therapeutic compositions disclosed, means that the administration ofthe referenced composition to a subject provides an immediate and/orextended alleviation, amelioration, inhibition, or mitigation of one ormore symptoms of a hepatitis disorder to the subject mammal.

The term “drug” as used in conjunction with the present disclosure meansany compound which is biologically active, e.g., exhibits or is capableof exhibiting a therapeutic or prophylactic effect in vivo, or abiological effect in vitro.

The term “dietary supplement, as used herein, refers to a compound orcomposition of either natural or synthetic origin which comprises adietary or nutritional substance for use by people to supplement thediet by increasing the total dietary intake. In various embodiments, adietary supplement may be a dietary supplement as defined under theDietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), or theequivalent. The DSHEA requires that the dietary supplement is as aproduct that is intended to supplement the diet and contains at leastone of the following: a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical(excluding tobacco), an amino acid, a dietary substance for use bypeople to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake, ora concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of anyof the above. Furthermore, DSHEA requires that the dietary supplementmust also be intended for ingestion in pill, capsule, tablet, powder,liquid or other suitable oral form, not be represented for use as aconventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet, and must belabeled as a “dietary supplement.”

As used herein, the term “oral mucosa” refers to the mucous matrix thatcovers all structures inside the oral cavity except the teeth. The oralmucosa generally varies in color from pink to brownish purple dependingon an individual's skin color. The structure of the oral mucosa variesdepending on its location in the oral cavity and the function of thatarea. For example, the mucosa lining the cheeks is not designed towithstand the heavy force of mastication while the masticatory mucosacovering the jaws is structured to withstand the forces of mastication.A specialized mucosa that includes taste buds covers the tongue. Exampleof oral mucosa tissue include, but are not limited to, palate tissue,gingiva tissue, buccal mucosa tissue, tongue tissue, and floor of themouth tissue.

The term “controlled drug-delivery system”, or “DDS”, as used herein,refers to a formulation that controls the rate and period of therapeuticagent/drug delivery (i.e., time-release dosage), targets specific areasof the subjects body, and are designed to maintain therapeutic levelsduring the desired treatment period, such as described by M. Vallet-Regí[Chem. Eur. J., Vol. 12, pp. 5934-5943 (2006)].

The term “bioavailability” refers to the rate and/or extent to which adrug is absorbed or becomes available to the treatment site in the body.

The term “administering” as used herein refers to administration of thecompositions of the present invention to the mucous membranes of theoral cavity (i.e., oral mucosa). Examples of suitable sites ofadministration within the oral mucosa include, without limitation, themucous membranes of the floor of the mouth (sublingual mucosa), thecheeks (buccal mucosa), the gums (gingival mucosa), the roof of themouth (palatal mucosa), the lining of the lips, and combinationsthereof. Preferably, the compositions of the present invention areadministered to the sublingual mucosa, buccal mucosa, or a combinationthereof.

The term “functionally equivalent variants” as used herein refers tomicroorganisms which essentially have the same properties and functionsas the original microorganisms. Such variants can be formed arbitrarily,for example, by UV irradiation, or other mutagenesis techniques known toa person skilled in the art, as well as taxonomical name changes, suchas a change in the Bifidobacteria genus.

As used herein, the phrase “combination therapy” embraces theadministration of a naturally-occurring immunostimulatory ODN, e.g., CpGODN, and a chemotherapeutic agent as part of a specific treatmentregimen optionally including a maintenance phase, intended to provide abeneficial effect from the co-action of these therapeutic agents. Thebeneficial effect of the combination includes, but is not limited to,pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic co-action resulting from thecombination of therapeutic agents. Administration of these therapeuticagents in combination typically is carried out over a defined timeperiod (usually minutes, hours, days or weeks depending upon thecombination selected). “Combination therapy” generally is not intendedto encompass the administration of two or more of these therapeuticagents as part of separate monotherapy regimens that incidentally andarbitrarily result in the combinations of the present invention.

“Combination therapy” embraces administration of these therapeuticagents in a sequential manner, that is, wherein each therapeutic agentis administered at a different time, as well as administration of thesetherapeutic agents, or at least two of the therapeutic agents, in asubstantially simultaneous manner. Substantially simultaneousadministration can be accomplished, for example, by administering to thesubject a single capsule having a fixed ratio of each therapeutic agentor in multiple, single capsules for each of the therapeutic agents.Sequential or substantially simultaneous administration of eachtherapeutic agent can be effected by any appropriate route including,but not limited to, oral routes, intravenous routes, intramuscular,subcutaneous routes, and direct absorption through mucous membranetissues. The therapeutic agents can be administered by the same route orby different routes. For example, a first therapeutic agent (e.g., CpGODN) can be administered by subcutaneous injection, and a second agent(e.g., a chemotherapeutic agent) can be administered intravenously.Further, a first therapeutic agent of the combination selected may beadministered by intravenous injection while the other therapeutic agentsof the combination may be administered orally. Alternatively, forexample, both the therapeutic agents may be administered orally or boththerapeutic agents may be administered by intravenous or subcutaneousinjection.

In the present specification the term “sequential” means, unlessotherwise specified, characterized by a regular sequence or order, e.g.,if a dosage regimen includes the administration of a CpG ODN and achemotherapeutic agent, a sequential dosage regimen could includeadministration of the CpG ODN before, simultaneously, substantiallysimultaneously, or after administration of the chemotherapeutic agent,but both agents will be administered in a regular sequence or order. Theterm “separate” means, unless otherwise specified, to keep apart onefrom the other. The term “simultaneously” means, unless otherwisespecified, happening or done at the same time, i.e., the compounds ofthe invention are administered at the same time. The term “substantiallysimultaneously” means that the compounds are administered within minutesof each other (e.g., within 10 minutes of each other) and intends toembrace joint administration as well as consecutive administration, butif the administration is consecutive it is separated in time for only ashort period (e.g., the time it would take a medical practitioner toadminister two compounds separately). As used herein, concurrentadministration and substantially simultaneous administration are usedinterchangeably. Sequential administration refers to temporallyseparated administration of the ODN and the chemotherapeutic agent.

“Combination therapy” also can embrace the administration of thetherapeutic agents as described above in further combination with otherbiologically active ingredients (such as, but not limited to, a secondand different antineoplastic agent, a dendritic vaccine or other tumorvaccine) and non-drug therapies (such as, but not limited to, surgery orradiation treatment or both). Where the combination therapy furthercomprises radiation treatment, the radiation treatment may be conductedat any suitable time so long as a beneficial effect from the co-actionof the combination of the therapeutic agents and radiation treatment isachieved. For example, in appropriate cases, the beneficial effect isstill achieved when the radiation treatment is temporally removed fromthe administration of the therapeutic agents, perhaps by days or evenweeks. Such combination therapy may also alleviate one or more adverseor undesirable side effects of other therapeutic agents.

As used herein, the term “adjuvant therapy” refers to treatment givenafter the primary treatment, including, without limitation, radiation,chemotherapy, hormone therapy, etc. The goal of adjuvant therapy is toincrease the patients' chances of remission or cure, to increase thepatients' overall survival benefit, and to help decrease the risk ofrecurrence. Therefore, it will be understood that if the natural CpG ODNof the present disclosure is administered as an adjuvant, it will beadministered to the patient after the primary treatment, e.g., thepatient is given a regimen of chemotherapy, followed by a course ofnatural CpG ODN. In this regard, the dose of CpG ODN may be considered atherapeutic dose or a maintenance dose, depending on the goals of theadjuvant therapy. The term “neoadjuvant therapy” refers to treatmentgiven before the primary treatment, including, without limitation,chemotherapy. In the neoadjuvant setting, the dose of CpG ODN is atherapeutic dose.

The term “first-line therapy” refers to the first type of therapy givenfor a condition or disease, or the first therapy of choice for thetreatment of a particular type of cancer. It necessarily follows thatthe term “second-line therapy” therefore refers to the treatment givenwhen the initial or first-line therapy is unsuccessful, and “third-linetherapy” refers to a treatment or treatment regimen that is given whenboth the initial treatment and the subsequent treatment areunsuccessful.

As used herein, the term “lysing,” with reference to a cell suspension,refers to rupturing the cell walls and/or cell membranes, cellularcomponents, organelles of at least a portion of the cells such that atleast part of the contents, e.g. biological molecules of the cells arereleased. In certain embodiments of the method of the present invention,at least a portion of the biological material is lysed to form a lysate.Without being bound by any particular theory of operation, thebiological sample lyses under physico-chemical forces created by thecombination of the appropriate solvent environment, along with pressureand either heat or cavitation, or a combination of the two. Biologicalmolecules that are released upon lysing include, but are not limited to,nucleic acids, carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, peptides, DNA(ssDNA, dsDNA and msDNA (multi-copy single-stranded DNA)), RNA(including ssRNA), complex sugars (oligosaccharides), peptidoglycans,and combinations thereof. Biological samples are typically aqueous,which means they contain an effective amount of water molecules to causethem to be in the liquid state.

The term “lysis” as used herein refers to the rupturing of a cellmembrane or cell wall (e.g., by digestion using enzymes or otherappropriate materials) and release of the cytoplasm from the cell. Asused herein, the term “lysate” refers to the material produced by thedestructive process of lysis, specifically a liquefied phase with lysedcell debris (e.g., ruptured cell walls and/or cell membranes) and DNA.

As used herein, the term “lysate” refers to the products of lysingbiological material, for example, the biological molecules that arereleased as listed above. Although most lysates will be readily solublein the biological sample fluid, certain lysate portions, such ashydrophobic components, may require additional steps to ensure at leasta portion of the lysate is solubilized. Examples of additional steps forensuring solubilization of the lysates include a suitable surfactant (ordehydrant), such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), which is typicallyincluded in the buffer, or any combination thereof. Lysatesolubilization may also be assisted using vigorous mixing, shearing,heating in surfactant, cavitation, bead beating, boiling, degassing, orany combination thereof.

The term “cell”, as used herein, is intended to encompass prokaryoticcells, eukaryotic cells, phage particles, and organelles.

As used herein, the term “chemotherapeutic agent” means a cytotoxiccompound which inhibits the proliferation of tumor or cancers cells in asubject. Chemotherapeutic agents may, in some circumstances, have acytotoxic effect on normal (non-cancerous and non-tumor) cells in apatient.

The term “downregulation” as used herein, refers to the process by whicha cell decreases the quantity of a cellular component, such as RNA or aprotein, in response to an external variable, such as a therapeuticagent.

The term “upregulation” as used herein refers to the process by which acell increases the quantity of a cellular component, such as RNA or aprotein, in response to an external variable, such as a therapeuticagent.

The term “Lyme disease,” as used herein, refers to an disease whichexhibits the characteristics as summarized in Dattwyler, R. J. andWormser, G. “Lyme borreliosis.” in Infectious Diseases Medicine andSurgery (eds.) S. Gorbach and J. Bartlett, 3rd Edition, Saunders Pub.New York, N.Y., 2003 and which is caused by a pathogenic Borrelia.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Figures described above and the written description of specificstructures and functions below are not presented to limit the scope ofwhat Applicant has invented or the scope of the appended claims. Rather,the Figures and written description are provided to teach any personskilled in the art to make and use the inventions for which patentprotection is sought. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that notall features of a commercial embodiment of the inventions are describedor shown for the sake of clarity and understanding. Persons of skill inthis art will also appreciate that the development of an actualcommercial embodiment incorporating aspects of the present inventionswill require numerous implementation-specific decisions to achieve thedeveloper's ultimate goal for the commercial embodiment. Suchimplementation-specific decisions may include, and likely are notlimited to, compliance with system-related, business-related,government-related and other constraints, which may vary by specificimplementation, location and from time to time. While a developer'sefforts might be complex and time-consuming in an absolute sense, suchefforts would be, nevertheless, a routine undertaking for those of skillin this art having benefit of this disclosure. It must be understoodthat the inventions disclosed and taught herein are susceptible tonumerous and various modifications and alternative forms. Lastly, theuse of a singular term, such as, but not limited to, “a,” is notintended as limiting of the number of items. Also, the use of relationalterms, such as, but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,”“upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” and the like are used in thewritten description for clarity in specific reference to the Figures andare not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the appendedclaims.

Applicant has created combination therapies and treatment regimens forthe treatment of immune disorders, including, hepatic disorders andhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cancers, and Lyme disease using atherapeutic agent derived from one or more gram-positive bacteria (suchas a cell-wall fraction of a gram-positive bacteria), and anaturally-occurring immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide. Exemplaryimmune disorders which may be treated by the compositions of the presentdisclosure, and using the associated methods, includes Tlymphocyte-related disorders, including, but not limited to, chronicinflammatory diseases and disorders, such as Crohn's disease, reactivearthritis, including Lyme disease, insulin-dependent diabetes,organ-specific autoimmunity, including multiple sclerosis, Hashimoto'sthyroiditis and Grave's disease, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, graftrejection, graft versus host disease, sarcoidosis, atopic conditions,such as asthma and allergy, including allergic rhinitis,gastrointestinal allergies, including food allergies, eosinophilia,conjunctivitis, glomerular nephritis, certain pathogen susceptibilitiessuch as helminthic (e.g., leishmaniasis) and certain viral infections,including HIV, and bacterial infections, including tuberculosis andlepromatous leprosy.

A. Compositions.

The therapeutically active compositions of the present disclosureinclude a first biologically active agent, preferably one or more cellwall fractions of one or more gram positive bacteria, such as in theform of a lysate; a second biologically-active agent, preferably anaturally-occurring CpG ODN; an optional promoter; and optionally, oneor more other additives, including control-release ingredients, so as toallow the composition to be absorbed into, or interact with, a mucosalwall of the subject in need of therapy.

According to the present invention, the first biologically activetherapeutic agent is a mixture of one or more lysate or cell wallfraction of a gram-positive bacteria, in an amount ranging from about 1mg/kg to about 100 mg/kg, as required depending upon the specifictherapeutic application. In accordance with the present disclosure, thelysate or cell wall fraction of a gram-positive bacteria is from thegroup of gram-positive bacteria selected from the group consisting ofLactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus casei,Lactobacillus catenaforme, Lactobacillus cellobiosus, Lactobacilluscrispatus, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii,Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus delbrueckiisubsp. lactis, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus jensenii,Lactobacillus leichmannii, Lactobacillus minutus, Lactobacillusparacasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus,Lactobacillus rogosae, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillussporogenes (also known as Bacillus coagulans), Lactobacillus brevis,Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus fermentum, Bifidobacteriumadolescentis, Bifidobacterium animalis (especially B. animalis,subspecies animalis), Bifidobacterium angulatum, Bifidobacteriumbifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium catenulatum,Bifidobacterium dentium, Bifidobacterium eriksonii, Bifidobacteriuminfantis, Bifidobacterium lactis (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.lactis), Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium plantarum,Bifidobacterium pseudo-catenulatum, Bifidobacterium pseudo-longum,Leptococcus lactis, Streptococcus lactis (also referred to asLactococcus lactis subsp. lactis), Streptococcus raffinolactis,Acidaminococcus fermenta, Cytophaga fermentans, Rhodoferax fermentans,Cellulomonas fermentans, Zymomonas mobilis, and Streptococcusthermophilus, as well as functionally equivalent variants thereof, allof which are suitable for carrying out the present invention. Thesemixtures of well-known species can be easily prepared by any personhaving ordinary experience in this field.

Other species can be used, for example those disclosed in the state ofthe art and generally available in collections, such as the ECACC(European Collection of Cell Cultures), ASTM; and DSM.

The preferred first biologically thereapeutic active agents according tothe present invention are lysates or cell wall extracts of gram-positivebacteria selected from the group consisting of the following:Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis (especially B.animalis, subspecies animalis), Bifidobacterium infantis,Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillusacidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillusdelbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lactococcus lactis, Bacillus coagulans(Lactobaciullus sporogenes), Bifidobacterium lactis (Bifidobacteriumanimalis subsp. lactis), Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillusacidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillusrhamnosus, and Lactobacillus helveticus, as well as functionallyequivalent variants thereof. Some of these mixtures are commerciallyavailable in a lyophilized form.

The second biologically-active therapeutic agent is anaturally-occurring CpG ODN. It is preferred, but not necessary, thatthe naturally-occurring CpG ODN be obtained from the same bacteria orbacterial lysate from which the first biologically-active therapeuticagent is obtained. The CpG ODN may be any CpG motif, including but notlimited to, class-A (Type D), class-B (Type K), class-C, class P, orclass S, or combinations thereof, as appropriate. The secondbiologically-active therapeutic agent may be a single CpG ODN, or acombination of two or more CpG ODN's, including a combination ofnaturally-occurring and synthetic CpG ODN's, the only proviso being thatat least one of the two or more CpG ODN's be naturally-occurring. Thepresent invention further contemplates the administration of atherapeutic or both therapeutic and maintenance dose of the CpG ODNcomponent in a wide range of doses. Exemplary therapeutic and/ormaintenance doses of the CpG ODN component of the instant compositionincludes, but are not limited to, dose ranges of from about 0.001 mg/kgto about 5.0 mg/kg, preferably about 0.001 mg/kg to about 2.5 mg/kg,from one to up to three times per day. The present inventioncontemplates, in addition to a therapeutic dose, the administration of amaintenance dose of a CpG ODN of about 0.001 to about 5.0 mg/Kg, as partof a maintenance regimen, such CpG ODN used as a maintenance does beingeither the same or not the same as the CpG ODN within the lysate of thegram-positive bacteria, as appropriate.

The therapeutic compositions of the present disclosure may further andoptionally comprise one or more promoters, to assist in the therapeuticdelivery of the active agent across the biological membrane. Preferably,the promoter useful in accordance with the present disclosure is anamino acid, N-alkylated peptide, sugar, amino sugar or amino sugarchelate. An amino sugar chelate comprising one or more amino sugarligands, one or more saturated hydroxylated carboxylic acid ligands, anda nutritionally acceptable metal, wherein at least one of the one ormore amino sugar ligands is glucosamine, and wherein the metal isselected from the group consisting of manganese, magnesium, sodium,potassium, and zinc, and wherein the one or more saturated hydroxylatedcarboxylic acid ligands is gluconic acid, and wherein the glucosamineligand to nutritionally acceptable metal ratio is 2:1.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the therapeuticformulations may include one or more acetylated or deacetylated aminosugars selected from the group consisting of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG;GlcNAc), galactosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, mannosamine, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and N-acetylmannosamine in the form of monomers,oligomers, and/or polymers thereof including chitin, and humanglucosaminoglycans, as well as derivatives thereof. The term“derivatives thereof” used herein with reference to amino sugars meansderivatives of the amino sugars having the same or essentially the sameability to form cytotoxic degradation products during steriliszation. Inaccordance with select further aspects of the present disclosure, thepromoter is a member selected from the group consisting ofpoly-L-lysine, glucosamine, poly-L-arginine, galactosamine,N-acetylmannosamine (NAM; N-Ac-Man), N-acetylglucosamine (NAG;N-Ac-Glc), N,N′-diacetylglucosamine (NAG-NAG; N,N′-diacetylchitobiose),N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetylglucosamine (NAG-NAG-NAG-NAG;N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetylchitotetraose), and mixtures thereof.

Optionally, and equally acceptable, the promoter may be an acylatedglycosyloxy sugar or an optionally acylated oligoglycosyloxy sugarmoiety of 2 to 12 α-1,2 and/or α-1,6 linked sugars, wherein the sugar(s)are selected from the group consisting of D-mannose, D-galactose,D-glucose, D-glucosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, and 6-deoxy-L-mannose,wherein an oligoglycosyloxy sugar moiety may comprise the same ordifferent sugars.

In accordance with further aspects of the present disclosure, thetherapeutic formulations of the invention may further comprise one ormore additional therapeutic agents, such as the second therapeuticagents described below. The compositions will usually be supplied aspart of a sterile, pharmaceutical composition that will normally includea pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This composition, comprisingadditional therapeutic agents, can be in any suitable form (dependingupon the desired method of administering it to a patient).

In certain aspects, the second therapeutic agent is an anti-rheumaticdrug, an anti-inflammatory agent, a chemotherapeutic agent, aradiotherapeutic, an immunosuppressive agent, an interferon, aninterferon-based chemotherapeutic, a different bacterial wall lysate, ora cytotoxic drug.

Anti-rheumatic drugs include, but are not limited to, auranofin,azathioprine, chloroquine, D-penicillamine, gold sodium thiomalatehydroxychloroquine, Myocrisin and sulfasalazine methotrexate.

Anti-inflammatory agents include, but are not limited to, dexamethasone,pentasa, mesalazine, asacol, codeine phosphate, benorylate, fenbufen,naprosyn, diclofenac, etodolac and indomethacin, aspirin and ibuprofen,as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS).

Chemotherapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, radioactivemolecules, toxins, also referred to as cytotoxins or cytotoxic agents,which includes any agent that is detrimental to the viability of cells,agents, and liposomes or other vesicles containing chemotherapeuticcompounds. Examples of suitable chemotherapeutic agents include but arenot limited to 1-dehydrotestosterone, 5-fluorouracil decarbazine,6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, actinomycin D, adriamycin, aldesleukin,alkylating agents, allopurinol sodium, altretamine, amifostine,anastrozole, anthramycin (AMC)), anti-mitotic agents,cis-dichlorodiamine platinum (II) (DDP) cisplatin), diamino dichloroplatinum, anthracyclines, antibiotics, antimetabolites, asparaginase,BCG live (intravesical), betamethasone sodium phosphate andbetamethasone acetate, bicalutamide, bleomycin sulfate, busulfan,calcium leucovorin, calicheamicin, capecitabine, carboplatin, lomustine(CCNU), carmustine (BSNU), Chlorambucil, Cisplatin, Cladribine,Colchicin, conjugated estrogens, Cyclophosphamide, Cyclothosphamide,Cytarabine, Cytarabine, cytochalasin B, Cytoxan, Dacarbazine,Dactinomycin, dactinomycin (formerly actinomycin), daunirubicin HCL,daunorucbicin citrate, denileukin diftitox, Dexrazoxane,Dibromomannitol, dihydroxy anthracin dione, Docetaxel, dolasetronmesylate, doxorubicin HCL, dronabinol, E. coli L-asparaginase, emetine,epoetin-.alpha., Erwinia L-asparaginase, esterified estrogens,estradiol, estramustine phosphate sodium, ethidium bromide, ethinylestradiol, etidronate, etoposide citrovorum factor, etoposide phosphate,filgrastim, floxuridine, fluconazole, fludarabine phosphate,fluorouracil, flutamide, folinic acid, gemcitabine HCL, glucocorticoids,goserelin acetate, gramicidin D, granisetron HCL, hydroxyurea,idarubicin HCL, ifosfamide, interferon .alpha.-2b, irinotecan HCL,letrozole, leucovorin calcium, leuprolide acetate, levamisole HCL,lidocaine, lomustine, maytansinoid, mechlorethamine HCL,medroxyprogesterone acetate, megestrol acetate, melphalan HCL,mercaptopurine, mesna, methotrexate, methyltestosterone, mithramycin,mitomycin C, mitotane, mitoxantrone, nilutamide, octreotide acetate,ondansetron HCL, paclitaxel, pamidronate disodium, pentostatin,pilocarpine HCL, plimycin, polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant,porfimer sodium, procaine, procarbazine HCL, propranolol, rituximab,sargramostim, streptozotocin, tamoxifen, taxol, teniposide, tenoposide,testolactone, tetracaine, thioepa chlorambucil, thioguanine, thiotepa,topotecan HCL, toremifene citrate, trastuzumab, tretinoin, valrubicin,vinblastine sulfate, vincristine sulfate, and vinorelbine tartrate.

In yet other aspects of the disclosure, the second therapeutic agent isa TNF-α antagonist or an anti-TNF-α antibody of the disclosure. Examplesof such TNF-α antagonists include, but are not limited to, soluble TNF-αreceptors; etanercept (ENBREL®; Immunex) or a fragment, derivative oranalog thereof; infliximab (REMICADE®; Centacor) or a derivative, analogor antigen-binding fragment thereof; IL-10, which is known to blockTNF-α production via interferon-γ-activated macrophages, TNFR-IgG; themurine product TBP-1; the vaccine CytoTAb (Protherics); antisensemolecule 104838 (ISIS); the peptide RDP-58 (SangStat); thalidomide(Celgene); CDC-801 (Celgene); DPC-333 (Dupont); VX-745 (Vertex);AGIX-4207 (AtheroGenics); ITF-2357 (Italfarmaco); NPI-13021-31 (Nereus);SCIO-469 (Scios); TACE targeter (Immunix/AHP); CLX-120500 (Calyx);Thiazolopyrim (Dynavax); auranofin (Ridaura) (SmithKline BeechamPharmaceuticals); quinacrine (mepacrine dichlorohydrate); tenidap(Enablex); Melanin (Large Scale Biological); and anti-p38 MAPK agents byUriach.

Additionally, the second therapeutic agents may be made from particulatecellular wall fragments of particular lactic acid bacteria (e.g.,Del-Immune V®, Pure Research Products, LLC, Colorado, USA), which areintended to stimulate the immune system.

In another embodiment, the compositions of the present invention are ina dosage form selected from the group consisting of a lozenge, a chewinggum, a chewable tablet, and a dissolving tablet such as aslow-dissolving tablet, a quick-dissolving tablet, or acontrolled-release tablet or other suitable controlled-releaseformulation. Preferably, the composition is a lozenge or a dissolvingtablet.

In a preferred embodiment, the active agent of the present disclosure isdelivered across an oral mucosa of a subject, the oral mucosa beingselected from the group consisting of the sublingual mucosa, the buccalmucosa, and a combination thereof. Preferably, the composition isadministered sublingually so that the active ingredient is deliveredacross the sublingual mucosa.

In another embodiment, the carrier is typically a solid, semi-solid, orliquid such as a binder, a gum base, or combinations thereof. Suitablebinders for use in the compositions of the present invention include,without limitation, sugar alcohols such as mannitol, sorbitol, andxylitol; sugars such as lactose, dextrose, sucrose, glucose, andpowdered sugar; other substances such as inositol, molasses,maltodextrin, starch, cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose,polyvinylpyrrolidone, acacia gum, guar gum, tragacanth gum, alginate,extract of Irish moss, panwar gum, ghatti gum, mucilage of isapol husks,VEEGUM®, larch arabogalactan, gelatin, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose,carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, polyacrylic acid(e.g., Carbopol), calcium silicate, calcium phosphate, dicalciumphosphate, calcium sulfate, kaolin, sodium chloride, polyethyleneglycol; and combinations thereof. Suitable gum bases for use in thecompositions of the present invention include, for example, materialsselected from among the many water-insoluble and saliva-insoluble gumbase materials known in the art. In certain instances, the gum basecomprises at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilicpolymer. Non-limiting examples of suitable hydrophobic and hydrophilicpolymers for gum bases include both natural and synthetic polymers suchas elastomers, rubbers, and combinations thereof. Examples of suitablenatural polymers include, without limitation, substances of plant originsuch as chicle, jelutong, gutta percha, crown gum, and combinationsthereof. Examples of suitable synthetic polymers include elastomers suchas butadiene-styrene copolymers, isobutylene and isoprene copolymers(e.g., “butyl rubber”), polyethylene, polyisobutylene, polyvinylester(e.g., polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl acetate phthalate), andcombinations thereof. In other instances, the gum base comprises amixture of butyl rubber (i.e., isobutylene and isoprene copolymer),polyisobutylene, and optionally, polyvinylacetate (e.g., having amolecular weight of approximately 12,000).

In yet another embodiment, the compositions of the present invention canfurther comprise a sweetening agent, a flavoring agent, a protectingagent, a plasticizer, a wax, an elastomeric solvent, a filler material,a preservative, or combinations thereof. In still yet anotherembodiment, the compositions of the present invention can furthercomprise a lubricating agent, a wetting agent, an emulsifying agent, asolubilizing agent, a suspending agent, a coloring agent, adisintegrating agent, or combinations thereof. In a preferredembodiment, the average particle size of the drug in the compositionsdescribed herein is about 20 microns, as compared to a typical averagedrug particle size of from about 75 to about 100 microns. In anotherpreferred embodiment, the average particle size of the drug in thecompositions described herein is less than or equal to the averageparticle size of the carrier ingredients (e.g., gum base, binders,etc.).

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the therapeutic composition mayoptionally include a buffer system to raise the pH of saliva to a pH offrom about 8.0 to about 11, irrespective of the starting pH of saliva inthe oral cavity of the subject to be treated. Suitable therapeuticagents for use in the present invention are described above. Suitablecarbonate salts and bicarbonate salts for use in the buffer systems ofthe present invention are also described above. In certain instances,composition further comprises a non-biologic therapeutic agent, such asan NSAID.

Suitable citrate, phosphate, and borate salts include, withoutlimitation, any salt of citric acid, phosphoric acid, or boric acidknown in the art. For example, in some embodiments, the citrate salt isselected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, potassium citrate,calcium citrate, magnesium citrate, and ammonium citrate. In otherembodiments, the phosphate salt is selected from the group consisting ofmonobasic sodium phosphate, dibasic sodium phosphate, monobasicpotassium phosphate, dibasic potassium phosphate, monobasic calciumphosphate, dibasic calcium phosphate, monobasic magnesium phosphate,dibasic magnesium phosphate, monobasic ammonium phosphate, and dibasicammonium phosphate. In yet other embodiments, the borate salt isselected from the group consisting of sodium borate, potassium borate,calcium borate, magnesium borate, and ammonium borate. In certaininstances, the buffer system comprises a carbonate salt, a bicarbonatesalt, and/or a citrate salt. In certain other instances, the buffersystem comprises a carbonate salt, a bicarbonate salt, and/or aphosphate salt. In further instances, the buffer system comprises acarbonate salt, a bicarbonate salt, and/or a borate salt.

In addition to a buffer system comprising a carbonate salt, abicarbonate salt, and/or a metal oxide, other buffer systems aresuitable for use in the compositions of the present invention. Forexample, in an alternative embodiment, the ternary buffer systemcomprises a carbonate salt, a bicarbonate salt, and a citrate,phosphate, or borate salt. In another alternative embodiment, the buffersystem comprises a carbonate salt or a bicarbonate salt and two or morebuffering agents selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, acitrate salt, a phosphate salt, and a borate salt. In yet anotheralternative embodiment, the buffer system is a binary buffer systemcomprising a carbonate salt or a bicarbonate salt and a metal oxide. Instill yet another alternative embodiment, the buffer system is a binarybuffer system comprising, a carbonate salt or a bicarbonate salt and acitrate, phosphate, or borate salt. In a further alternative embodiment,the buffer system is a binary buffer system comprising a metal oxide anda citrate, phosphate, or borate salt. In still yet another alternativeembodiment, the buffer system is a binary buffer system comprising acarbonate salt and a bicarbonate salt, preferably sodium carbonate andsodium bicarbonate.

B. Control Release Additives

The therapeutic composition of the invention may also include acontrolled release additive. The presence of a controlled releaseadditive in the therapeutic composition substantially reduces the“intitial burst” of biologically active agent released from thetherapeutic composition during the initial first 1-2 minutes afterdelivery to the subject's mucosa. As used herein, the term“substantially reduces” means a decrease of at least 15% of biologicallyactive agent released from the therapeutic composition compared to acomposition without the additive. Preferably, the controlled releaseadditive reduces the initial burst of biologically active agent releasedfrom the polymeric composition by about 15% to about 70%, morepreferably about 30% to about 60%, compared to a therapeutic compositionwhich does not include a controlled release additive.

According to the present disclosure, the controlled release additive isany suitable controlled-release additive, preferably a thermoplasticpolymer having poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) moieties andpolyethylene glycol (PEG) moieties. Preferably the controlled releaseadditive is a PLG/PEG block copolymer which includes from about 50 mole% to about 90 mole % lactide monomers and about 50 mole % to about 10mole % glycolide monomers. More preferably, the PLG/PEG block copolymerincludes from about 50 mole % to about 75 mole % lactide monomers andabout 50 mole % to about 25 mole % glycolide monomers. Preferably thePEG moiety has a molecular weight of about 1,000 Daltons to about 10,000Daltons, more preferably about 5000 Daltons. The PEG portion of theblock copolymer ranges from about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % of the totalweight of the block copolymer. The percentage is dependent on themolecular weight of the block copolymer that is prepared and themolecular weight of the polyethylene glycol that is used. Thus, a blockcopolymer with a weight average molecular weight of 100,000 Daltons(I.V. approx. 0.8 dL/g) prepared with PEG having a molecular weight of5,000 Daltons will contain about 5 wt % PEG. If PEG with a molecularweight of 1,000 Daltons is used, the block copolymer will include about1 wt % of PEG.

The inherent viscosity (abbreviated as “I.V.”; units are indeciliters/gram) of the controlled release additive is a measure of itsmolecular weight. Preferably, the inherent viscosity of the controlledrelease additive suitable for use with the compositions of the presentdisclosure is from about 0.50 dL/g to about 1.0 dL/g (as measured inchloroform), more preferably from about 0.70 dL/g to about 0.90 dL/g.

Suitable polymeric controlled release additives include but are notlimited to any PLG/PEG block copolymer with the previously mentionedattributes. Examples of suitable polymeric controlled release additivesinclude, without limitation, 50/50 PLG/PEG-5000 (0.81); 70/30PLG/PEG-5000 (0.73); and 70/30 PLG/PEG-5000 (0.79).

The controlled release additive, when included in the formulation, maybe present in the therapeutic composition in an amount effective toreduce the initial burst of biologically active agent released from thetherapeutic composition during the first 2 minutes after delivery to themucosa. Preferably, the therapeutic composition includes about 1 wt % toabout 50 wt %, more preferably about 2 wt % to about 20 wt % of thecontrolled release additive.

C. Dosage Forms

The therapeutic compositions of the present invention may take the formof solid, semi-solid, lyophilized powder, or liquid dosage forms, suchas, for example, tablets (e.g., chewable, slow-dissolving,quick-dissolving), pills, capsules, lozenges, candies, gums, powders,solutions, suspensions, emulsions, aerosols, or the like. Preferably,the dosage form is a chewing gum, quick-dissolving tablet, candy, orlozenge. In accordance with further aspects of the present disclosure,the composition is in a dietary supplement, such as a tablet, pill,capsule, or other oral delivery formulation.

While each subject or patient possesses unique factors that may affectthe rate and extent of absorption of the therapeutic agents describedherein, dosage forms such as chewing gums, candies, quick-dissolvingtablets, or lozenges offer advantages over the traditional dosage formsfor oral administration. For example, each of these dosage forms avoidshepatic first pass metabolism, degradation within the gastrointestinaltract, and drug loss during absorption. Consequently, the amount of theactive therapeutic agent required per dose is less than that which wouldbe required if formulated, for example, in a pill or tablet for oraladministration. Similarly, with each of these dosage forms, thebioavailability of the therapeutic agent is increased, thereby reducingthe time to onset of therapeutic activity.

As used herein, the term “dosage form” refers to physically discreteunits suitable as unitary dosages for human subjects and other mammals,each unit containing a predetermined quantity of therapeutic agentcalculated to produce the desired onset, tolerability, and therapeuticeffects, in association with one or more suitable pharmaceuticalexcipients such as carriers. Methods for preparing such dosage forms areknown or will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, insome embodiments, a chewing gum dosage form of the present invention canbe prepared according to procedures standard in the industry. In otherembodiments, a tablet, lozenge, or candy dosage form (e.g., a sucker) ofthe present invention can be prepared according to the procedures setforth in, for example, Remington's “The Science and Practice ofPharmacy, 20th Ed.,” [Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins (2003); and,“Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Volume 1: Tablets,” 2nd Ed., MarcelDekker, Inc., New York, N.Y. (1989)]. The dosage form to be administeredwill, in any event, contain a quantity of the active therapeutic agentin a therapeutically effective amount for relief of the condition beingtreated when administered in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention.

As used herein, the term “carrier” refers to a typically inert substanceused as a diluent or vehicle for a drug such as a therapeutic agent. Theterm also encompasses a typically inert substance that imparts cohesivequalities to the composition. Suitable carriers for use in thecompositions of the present invention include, without limitation, asolid, semi-solid, or liquid such as a binder or a gum base.Non-limiting examples of binders include mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol,maltodextrin, lactose, dextrose, sucrose, glucose, inositol, powderedsugar, molasses, starch, cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose,polyvinylpyrrolidone, acacia gum, guar gum, tragacanth gum, alginate,extract of Irish moss, panwar gum, ghatti gum, mucilage of isapol husks,VEEGUM®, larch arabogalactan, gelatin, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose,carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, polyacrylic acid(e.g., Carbopol), calcium silicate, calcium phosphate, dicalciumphosphate, calcium sulfate, kaolin, sodium chloride, polyethyleneglycol, and combinations thereof. These binders can be pre-processed toimprove their flowability and taste by methods known in the art such asfreeze drying [see, e.g., “Fundamentals of Freeze-Drying,” Pharm.Biotechnol., Vol. 14, pp. 281-360 (2002); “Lyophililization of Unit DosePharmaceutical Dosage Forms,” Drug. Dev. Ind. Pharm., Vol. 29, pp.595-602 (2003)]; solid-solution preparation; and lubricant dusting andwet-granulation preparation with a suitable lubricating agent (see,e.g., Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, supra). Forexample, MANNOGEM® and SORBOGEM®, sold by SPI Pharma Group (New Castle,Del.), are freeze-dried, processed forms of mannitol and sorbitol,respectively. Typically, when a binder is included in the formulation,the compositions of the present invention comprise from about 15% toabout 90% by weight of the binder, and preferably from about 35% toabout 80%. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that thecompositions of the present invention can be made without any binders,e.g., to produce a highly friable dosage form.

Non-limiting examples of gum bases include materials selected from amongthe many water-insoluble and saliva-insoluble gum base materials knownin the art. For example, in some instances, the gum base comprises atleast one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer.Non-limiting examples of suitable hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymersfor gum bases include both natural and synthetic polymers such aselastomers, rubbers, and combinations thereof. Examples of suitablenatural polymers include, without limitation, substances of plant originsuch as chicle, jelutong, gutta percha, crown gum, and combinationsthereof. Examples of suitable synthetic polymers include elastomers suchas butadiene-styrene copolymers, isobutylene and isoprene copolymers(e.g., “butyl rubber”), polyethylene, polyisobutylene, polyvinylester(e.g., polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl acetate phthalate), andcombinations thereof. In other instances, the gum base comprises amixture of butyl rubber (i.e., isobutylene and isoprene copolymer),polyisobutylene, and optionally, polyvinylacetate (e.g., having amolecular weight of approximately 12,000). Typically, the gum basecomprises from about 25% to about 75% by weight of these polymers, andpreferably from about 30% to about 60%.

The compositions of the present invention can additionally includelubricating agents; wetting agents; emulsifying agents; solubilizingagents; suspending agents; preserving agents such as methyl-, ethyl-,and propyl-hydroxy-benzoates, butylated hydroxytoluene, and butylatedhydroxyanisole; sweetening agents; flavoring agents; coloring agents;lipids such as vitamin E or an omega fatty acid; and disintegratingagents (i.e., dissolving agents) such as crospovidone as well ascroscarmellose sodium and other cross-linked cellulose polymers.

Lubricating agents can be used to prevent adhesion of the dosage form tothe surface of the dies and punches, and to reduce inter-particlefriction. Lubricating agents may also facilitate ejection of the dosageform from the die cavity and improve the rate of granulation flow duringprocessing. Examples of suitable lubricating agents include, withoutlimitation, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, zinc stearate, stearicacid, simethicone, silicon dioxide, talc, hydrogenated vegetable oil,polyethylene glycol, mineral oil, and combinations thereof. Thecompositions of the present invention can comprise from about 0% toabout 10% by weight of the lubricating agent, and preferably from about1% to about 5%.

Sweetening agents can be used to improve the palatability of thecomposition by masking any unpleasant tastes it may have. Examples ofsuitable sweetening agents include, without limitation, compoundsselected from the saccharide family such as the mono-, di-, tri-, poly-,and oligosaccharides; sugars such as sucrose, glucose (corn syrup),dextrose, invert sugar, fructose, maltodextrin, and polydextrose;saccharin and salts thereof such as sodium and calcium salts; cyclamicacid and salts thereof; dipeptide sweeteners; chlorinated sugarderivatives such as sucralose and dihydrochalcone; sugar alcohols suchas sorbitol, sorbitol syrup, mannitol, xylitol, hexa-resorcinol, and thelike, and combinations thereof. Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, and thepotassium, calcium, and sodium salts of3,6-dihydro-6-methyl-1-1,2,3-oxathiazin-4-one-2,2-dioxide may also beused. Of the foregoing, sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol, either alone orin combination, are preferred sweetening agents. The compositions of thepresent invention can comprise from about 0% to about 80% by weight ofthe sweetening agent, preferably from about 5% to about 75%, and morepreferably from about 25% to about 50%.

Flavoring agents can also be used to improve the palatability of thecomposition. Examples of suitable flavoring agents include, withoutlimitation, natural and/or synthetic (i.e., artificial) compounds suchas peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, cinnamon, menthol, cherry,strawberry, watermelon, grape, banana, peach, pineapple, apricot, pear,raspberry, lemon, grapefruit, orange, plum, apple, fruit punch, passionfruit, chocolate (e.g. white, milk, dark), vanilla, caramel, coffee,hazelnut, combinations thereof, and the like. Coloring agents can beused to color code the composition, for example, to indicate the typeand dosage of the therapeutic agent therein. Suitable coloring agentsinclude, without limitation, natural and/or artificial compounds such asFD & C coloring agents, natural juice concentrates, pigments such astitanium oxide, silicon dioxide, and zinc oxide, combinations thereof,and the like. The compositions of the present invention can comprisefrom about 0% to about 10% by weight of the flavoring and/or coloringagent, preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%, and more preferably fromabout 2% to about 3%.

1. Chewing Gums

When the dosage form is a chewing gum, the compositions of the presentinvention comprise an active therapeutic agent derived from agram-positive bacteria or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, apromoter, a carrier such as a gum base, a binary or ternary buffersystem, and optionally a protecting agent. The chewing gum compositionmay further comprise lubricating agents, wetting agents, emulsifyingagents, suspending agents, preserving agents, sweetening agents,flavoring agents, and coloring agents. Typically, the chewing gumcomposition comprises from about 0.001% to about 10.0% by weight of theactive therapeutic agent (in whatever chosen form, measured as per itsfree base form), more typically from about 0.01% to about 5.0%, andstill more typically from about 0.1% to about 3.0%. One skilled in theart understands that the foregoing percentages will vary depending uponthe particular source of gram-positive-based active therapeutic agentutilized, the amount of the active therapeutic agent desired in thefinal formulation, as well as on the particular release rate of theactive therapeutic agent desired. The optional buffer system of thechewing gum composition can provide for a final salivary pH in excess ofat least about 8.0, preferably at least about 9.5, and more preferablyin the range of from about 9.9 to about 11. The chewing gum compositiontypically comprises from about 20% to about 95% by weight of the gumbase, more typically from about 30% to about 85%, and most typicallyfrom about 50% to about 70% of the gum base.

The chewing gum composition may further comprise a protecting agent. Theprotecting agent coats at least part of the therapeutic agent, typicallyupon the mixing of the two agents. The protecting agent may be mixedwith the active therapeutic agent in a ratio of from about 0.1 to about100 by weight, preferably in a ratio of from about 1 to about 50, andmore preferably in a ratio of about 1 to about 10. Without being boundto any particular theory, the protecting agent reduces the adhesionbetween the therapeutic agent and the gum base so that the therapeuticagent may be more easily released from the gum base. In this way, thetherapeutic agent may be delivered across the mucous membranes of theoral cavity within about 5 to about 20 minutes of chewing, preferablywithin about 10 minutes of chewing. A variety of different protectingagents may be used. Examples of suitable protecting agents include,without limitation, calcium stearate, glycerin monostearate, glycerylbehenate, glyceryl palmitostearate, hydrogenated castor oil,hydrogenated vegetable oil type I, light mineral oil, magnesium laurylsulfate, magnesium stearate, mineral oil, poloxamer, polyethylene gycol,sodium benzoate, sodium chloride, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearic acid,cab-o-sil, talc, zinc stearate, and combinations thereof.

The gum base may additionally include plasticizers such as softeners oremulsifiers. Such plasticizers may, for example, help reduce theviscosity of the gum base to a desirable consistency and improve itsoverall texture and bite. Plasticizers may also facilitate the releaseof the therapeutic agent upon mastication. Non-limiting examples ofplasticizers include lecithin, mono- and diglycerides, lanolin, stearicacid, sodium stearate, potassium stearate, glycerol triacetate, glycerolmonostearate, glycerin, and combinations thereof. The gum base typicallycomprises from about 0% to about 20% by weight of the plasticizer, andmore typically from about 5% to about 15%.

The gum base may further comprise waxes such as beeswax andmicrocrystalline wax, fats or oils such as soybean and cottonseed oil,and combinations thereof. Typically, the gum base comprises from about0% to about 25% by weight of these waxes and oils, and more typicallycomprises from about 15% to about 20%.

In addition, the gum base may further comprise one or more elastomericsolvents such as rosins and resins. Non-limiting examples of suchsolvents include methyl, glycerol, and pentaerythritol esters of rosins,modified rosins such as hydrogenated, dimerized or polymerized rosins,or combinations thereof (e.g., pentaerythritol ester of partiallyhydrogenated wood rosin, pentaerythritol ester of wood rosin, glycerolester of wood rosin, glycerol ester of partially dimerized rosin,glycerol ester of polymerized rosin, glycerol ester of tall oil rosin,glycerol ester of wood rosin and partially hydrogenated wood rosin andpartially hydrogenated methyl ester of rosin such as polymers ofα-pinene or β-pinene, terpene resins including polyterpene, andcombinations thereof). Typically, the gum base comprises from about 0%to about 75% by weight of the elastomeric solvent, and more typicallyless than about 10%.

The gum base may further comprise a filler material to enhance thechewability of the final chewing gum composition. Fillers that aresubstantially non-reactive with other components of the final chewinggum formulation are preferable. Examples of suitable fillers include,without limitation, calcium carbonate, magnesium silicate (i.e., talc),dicalcium phosphate, metallic mineral salts (e.g., alumina, aluminumhydroxide, and aluminum silicates), and combinations thereof. Typically,the gum base comprises from about 0% to about 30% by weight of thefiller, and more typically from about 10% to about 20%.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the gum base need not beprepared from its individual components. For example, the gum base canbe purchased with the desired ingredients contained therein, and can bemodified to include additional agents. Several manufacturers produce gumbases suitable for use with the described chewing gum compositions.Examples of such gum bases include, without limitation, PHARMGUM™ M, S,or C(SPI Pharma Group; New Castle, Del.). In general, PHARMAGUM™comprises a mixture of gum base, sweetening agent, plasticizer, andsugar.

In certain instances, the chewing gum composition includes a therapeuticagent centerfill. A centerfill may be particularly suitable whenimmediate release of the therapeutic agent is preferred. In addition,encapsulating the active therapeutic agent in a centerfill may help tomask any undesirable taste that the therapeutic agent may have. In theseinstances, the gum base surrounds, at least in part, a centerfill. Thecenterfill comprises at least one therapeutic agent, and may be a liquidor semi-liquid material. The centerfill material can be a syntheticpolymer, a semi-synthetic polymer, low-fat, or fat-free and contain oneor more sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents, and/orscenting agents. Preferably, the centerfill includes a buffer system,including a binary or ternary buffer system as described herein. Methodsfor preparing a centerfill chewing gum are described, for example, inU.S. Pat. No. 3,806,290, which is hereby incorporated by reference inrelevant part.

The chewing gum compositions can have any desired shape, size, andtexture. For example, the composition can have the shape of a stick,tab, gumball, and the like. Similarly, the chewing gum can be anydesirable color. For example, the chewing gum can be any shade of red,blue, green, orange, yellow, violet, indigo, and mixtures thereof, andcan be color coded to indicate the type and dosage of the therapeuticagent therein. The chewing gum can be individually wrapped or groupedtogether in pieces for packaging by methods well known in the art.

2. Tablets

When the dosage form is a tablet such as a dissolving tablet (i.e.,disintegrating tablet) or chewable tablet, the compositions of thepresent invention comprise a therapeutic agent as described hereinderived from one or more gram-positive bacteria, or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof, naturally-occurring immunostimulatoryoligodeoxynucleotide, such as a CpG ODN motif or equivalent, an optionalpromoter, a carrier such as a binder, and a buffer system, includingbinary or ternary buffer systems. The tablet composition may furthercomprise lubricating agents, wetting agents, emulsifying agents,suspending agents, preserving agents, sweetening agents, flavoringagents, coloring agents, and disintegrating agents. Typically, thetablet compositions of the present invention comprise from about 0.001%to about 10.0% by weight of the active therapeutic agent (in whateverchosen form, measured as per its free base form), and more typicallyfrom about 1.0% to about 5.0%. One skilled in the art understands thatthe foregoing percentages will vary depending upon the particular sourceof active therapeutic agent utilized, the amount of the activetherapeutic agent desired in the final formulation, as well as on theparticular release rate of the active therapeutic agent desired. Thebuffer system of the tablet composition provides for a final salivary pHin excess of at least about 8.0, preferably at least about 9.5, and morepreferably in the range of from about pH 9.9 to about pH 11.

In certain embodiments, the tablet is a dissolving tablet such as aslow-dissolving or quick-dissolving tablet that is dissolved by asubject's saliva, without the need for chewing. For example, adissolving tablet placed on the subject's tongue can be used for buccaldelivery of the therapeutic agent. Alternatively, a dissolving tabletplaced underneath the subject's tongue can be used for sublingualdelivery of the therapeutic agent. This type of dosage form may beparticularly desirable for pediatric and geriatric patients, since smallchildren and aged individuals often have difficulty chewing certainitems. Typically, the dissolving tablet is formulated to dissolve withinabout 1 to about 15 minutes, preferably within about 2 to about 10minutes, e.g., within about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 minutes,following administration. One skilled in the art will understand thatquick-dissolving tablets dissolve faster than slow-dissolving tablets,which are typically dissolved gradually rather than rapidly by asubject's saliva. In a preferred embodiment, the slow-dissolving orquick-dissolving tablet delivers the therapeutic agent across thesublingual mucosa over a period of time greater than about 1 minute.

In certain other embodiments, the tablet is a chewable tablet that ischewed by a subject and formulated to dissolve either rapidly orgradually. For example, a chewable tablet placed on the subject's tonguecan be used for buccal delivery of the therapeutic agent. Duringchewing, the chewable tablet can be moved around within the mouth andcan sometimes be parked between the gums and the cheeks or underneaththe tongue. As a result, at least a portion of the therapeutic agentcontained within a chewable tablet may also be delivered sublingually(i.e., across the sublingual mucosa). Typically, the chewable tablet isformulated to dissolve within about 1 to about 15 minutes, preferablywithin about 2 to about 10 minutes and not less than 1 minute, e.g.,within about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 minutes, followingadministration.

As described above, the dissolving and chewable tablets of the presentinvention are typically formulated to dissolve within about 1 to 15minutes following administration, and preferably not less than about 1minute. However, while these time frames are amenable to maximumexposure of the therapeutic agent to the oral mucosa (e.g., to thesublingual and/or buccal mucosa), they are not always amenable to usercompliance (e.g., users may swallow too frequently and, therefore,hinder maximal transmucosal absorption). Consequently, in certaininstances, it may be desirable to strike a balance between patientcompliance and maximum exposure time of the therapeutic agent to theoral mucosa. This can be accomplished, for example, by reducing thetablet size (e.g., from about 700-800 mg to about 200-300 mg) withoutreducing the concentration or amount per unit dose of the buffer systemor the therapeutic agent. In addition, subtle changes to the tabletformulation such as, for example, replacing one flavoring agent foranother (e.g., chocolate for spearmint) or replacing one binder orsweetening agent for another (e.g., lactose for mannitol or sorbitol)may be used to reduce salivation.

The carrier present in the tablets of the present invention is typicallya binder that is useful in keeping the tablet in a semi-solid state, andmay be a solid or a liquid, and may for example be a high-melting pointfat or waxy material. Materials suitable as binders are discussed indetail above and may be used alone or in combination in the tabletcompositions of the present invention. In addition, binders such asmannitol, sorbitol, lactose, sucrose, and inositol can impart propertiesto the tablet that permit or enhance its disintegration in the mouth.

The tablet composition may further comprise a protecting agent. Theprotecting agent coats at least part of the therapeutic agent, typicallyupon the mixing of the two agents. The protecting agent may be mixedwith the therapeutic agent in a ratio of from about 0.1 to about 100 byweight, preferably in a ratio of from about 1 to about 50, and morepreferably in a ratio of about 1 to about 10. Without being bound to anyparticular theory, the protecting agent reduces the adhesion between thetherapeutic agent and the binder so that the therapeutic agent may bemore easily released from the binder. In this way, the therapeutic agentmay be delivered across the mucous membranes of the oral cavity withinabout 5 to about 20 minutes, preferably within about 10 minutes.Materials suitable as protecting agents are discussed in detail aboveand may be used alone or in combination in the tablet compositions ofthe present invention.

The tablet composition may also comprise one or more elastomericsolvents such as rosins and resins. Non-limiting examples of suchsolvents are discussed in detail above and may be used alone or incombination in the tablet compositions of the present invention. Inaddition, the tablet composition may further comprise waxes such asbeeswax and microcrystalline wax, fats or oils such as soybean andcottonseed oil, and combinations thereof. Moreover, the tabletcomposition may additionally include plasticizers such as softeners oremulsifiers. Such plasticizers may, for example, help reduce theviscosity of the salivary solution of the dissolved tablet to adesirable consistency and improve its overall texture and bite and helpfacilitate the release of the therapeutic agent. Non-limiting examplesof such plasticizers are discussed in detail above and may be used aloneor in combination in the tablet compositions of the present invention.

In certain instances, the tablet composition includes a therapeuticagent centerfill. A centerfill may be particularly suitable whenimmediate release of the therapeutic agent is preferred. In addition,encapsulating the active therapeutic agent in a centerfill may help tomask any undesirable taste that the therapeutic agent may have. In theseinstances, the binder surrounds, at least in part, a centerfill. Thecenterfill comprises at least one therapeutic agent in accordance withthe present disclosure, and may be a liquid or semi-liquid material. Thecenterfill material can be low-fat or fat free and contain one or moresweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents, and/or scentingagents. Preferably, the centerfill includes a binary or ternary buffersystem as described herein.

In certain other instances, the tablet composition of the presentinvention is multilayered. In this way, the dissolving or chewabletablet can be designed to provide more than one therapeutic agent, e.g.,two or more active therapeutic agents, or one or more active therapeuticagents derived from a first gram-positive bacteria in combination withone or more active therapeutic agents derived from a secondgram-positive bacteria. For example, with a bi-layered tablet, the firstlayer contains a first active therapeutic agent derived from a firstgram-positive bacteria, and the second layer contains the same or adifferent active therapeutic agent derived from the same or a differentgram-positive bacteria. Typically, the first layer comprises thedissolving or chewable portion of the tablet, and the second (i.e.,subsequent) layer is coated by the first layer. This type of formulationmay be particularly suitable when immediate release of the activetherapeutic agent, followed by gastrointestinal absorption of a secondtherapeutic agent, is desirable. Gastrointestinal absorption of thesecond therapeutic agent may be desirable, for example, in order tomitigate co-morbid symptoms or to sustain the therapeutic benefit of theactive therapeutic agent in the dissolving or the chewable portion ofthe tablet. Alternatively, the second layer is present as a layerlateral to the first layer. The second layer typically comprises atleast one therapeutic agent, and can also comprise one or moresweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents, and scentingagents as described above. In some instances, the second layer furtherincludes a binary or ternary buffer system as described herein.

In still other instances, the combination of the active therapeuticagent with or without additional therapeutic agents need not take theform of a multilayered tablet, but instead comprises a single homogenoustablet layer. This type of formulation may also be used in the casewhere gastrointestinal absorption of at least one therapeutic agent isdesirable. In this case, the relative extent of ionization of the two ormore therapeutic agents determines how they are to be absorbed. Forexample, those therapeutic agents that are un-ionized are absorbedthrough the oral mucosa, while the ionized agents are swallowed forgastrointestinal absorption.

The tablet compositions can have any desired shape, size, and texture.For example, the tablet can have the shape of a stick, tab, pellet,sphere, and the like. Similarly, the tablet can be any desirable color.For example, the tablet can be any shade of red, blue, green, orange,yellow, violet, indigo, and mixtures thereof, and can be color coded toindicate the type and dosage of the therapeutic agent therein. Thetablets can be individually wrapped or grouped together in pieces forpackaging by methods well known in the art.

3. Lozenges

When the dosage form is a lozenge or candy, the compositions of thepresent invention comprise the active agent from a gram positivebacteria or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, an optionalpromoter, a carrier such as a binder, and a buffer system, including abinary or ternary buffer system; the lozenge or candy composition mayfurther comprise lubricating agents, wetting agents, emulsifying agents,suspending agents, preserving agents, sweetening agents, flavoringagents, coloring agents, and disintegrating agents. A general discussionof lozenges and candies is provided, for example, in “PharmaceuticalDosage Forms, Volume 1: Tablets” [2nd Ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., NewYork, N.Y., pages 75-418 (1989)].

Typically, the lozenge or candy compositions of the present inventioncomprise from about 0.001% to about 10.0% by weight of the activetherapeutic agent (in whatever chosen form, measured as per its freebase form), preferably from about 1.0% to about 5.0%, and morepreferably from about 2.5% to about 4.5%. One skilled in the artunderstands that the foregoing percentages will vary depending upon theparticular source of the active therapeutic agent utilized, the amountof the active therapeutic agent desired in the final formulation, aswell as on the particular release rate of the active therapeutic agentdesired. The buffer system for the lozenge or candy composition, whenincluded or necessary, may be a single-compound buffer system, but istypically a binary or ternary buffer system comprising amorphousmagnesium oxide or the like with a carbonate salt and/or a bicarbonatesalt. For example, an exemplary ternary buffer system typicallycomprises from about 4.0% to about 7.0% by weight sodium carbonate; fromabout 8.0% to about 12.0% by weight dessicant-coated sodium bicarbonate;and from about 20% to about 30% by weight amorphous magnesium oxide. Thebuffer system provides for a final salivary pH in excess of at leastabout 8.0 when necessary, preferably at least about 9.5, and morepreferably in the range of from about 9.9 to about 11.

In certain embodiments, the lozenge or candy is dissolved by a subject'ssaliva, without the need for chewing. For example, a lozenge placed onthe subject's tongue can be used for buccal delivery of the therapeuticagent. Alternatively, a lozenge placed underneath the subject's tonguecan be used for sublingual delivery of the therapeutic agent. This typeof dosage form may be particularly desirable for pediatric and geriatricpatients, since small children and aged individuals often havedifficulty chewing certain items. Typically, the lozenge is formulatedto dissolve within about 1 to about 15 minutes, preferably within about2 to about 10 minutes, and preferably not less than about 1 minute,e.g., within about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 minutes, followingadministration. In a preferred embodiment, the lozenge or candy deliversthe therapeutic agent across the sublingual mucosa in a period of timegreater than 1 minute.

As described above, the lozenges the present invention are typicallyformulated to dissolve within about 1 to about 15 minutes followingadministration, and preferably not less than about 1 minute. However,while these time frames are amenable to maximum exposure of thetherapeutic agent to the oral mucosa (e.g., to the sublingual and/orbuccal mucosa), they are not always amenable to user compliance (e.g.,users may swallow too, frequently and, therefore, hinder maximaltransmucosal absorption). Consequently, in certain instances, it may bedesirable to strike a balance between patient compliance and maximumexposure time of the therapeutic agent to the oral mucosa. This can beaccomplished, for example, by reducing the lozenge size (e.g., fromabout 700-800 mg to about 200-300 mg) without reducing the concentrationor the amount per unit dose of the buffer system or the therapeuticagent. In addition, subtle changes to the lozenge formulation such as,for example, replacing one flavoring agent for another (e.g., chocolatefor spearmint) or replacing one binder or sweetening agent for another(e.g., lactose for mannitol or sorbitol) may be used to reducesalivation.

The carrier present in the lozenges of the present invention istypically a binder that is useful in keeping the lozenge in a semi-solidstate, and may be a solid or a liquid, and may for example be ahigh-melting point fat or waxy material. Materials suitable as bindersare discussed in detail above and may be used alone or in combination inthe lozenge compositions of the present invention. In addition, binderssuch as mannitol, sorbitol, lactose, sucrose, and inositol can impartproperties to the lozenge that permit or enhance its disintegration inthe mouth.

The lozenge composition may further comprise a protecting agent. Theprotecting agent coats at least part of the therapeutic agent, typicallyupon the mixing of the two agents. The protecting agent may be mixedwith the therapeutic agent in a ratio of from about 0.1 to about 100 byweight, preferably in a ratio of from about 1 to about 50, and morepreferably in a ratio of about 1 to about 10. Without being bound to anyparticular theory, the protecting agent reduces the adhesion between thetherapeutic agent and the binder so that the therapeutic agent may bemore easily released from the binder. In this way, the therapeutic agentmay be delivered across the mucous membranes of the oral cavity withinabout 5 to about 20 minutes, preferably within about 10 minutes.Materials suitable as protecting agents are discussed in detail aboveand may be used alone or in combination in the lozenge compositions ofthe present invention.

The lozenge composition may-also comprise one or more elastomericsolvents such as rosins and resins. Non-limiting examples of suchsolvents are discussed in detail above and may be used alone or incombination in the tablet compositions of the present invention. Inaddition, the lozenge composition may further comprise waxes such asbeeswax and microcrystalline wax, fats or oils such as soybean andcottonseed oil, and combinations thereof. Moreover, the lozengecomposition may additionally include plasticizers such as softeners oremulsifiers. Such plasticizers may, for example, help reduce theviscosity of the salivary solution of the dissolved lozenge to adesirable consistency and improve its overall texture and bite and helpfacilitate the release of the therapeutic agent. Non-limiting examplesof such plasticizers are discussed in detail above and may be used aloneor in combination in the lozenge compositions of the present invention.

In certain instances, the lozenge composition includes a therapeuticagent centerfill. A centerfill may be particularly suitable whenimmediate release of the therapeutic agent is preferred. In addition,encapsulating the therapeutic agent in a centerfill may help to mask anyundesirable taste that the therapeutic agent may have. In theseinstances, the binder surrounds, at least in part, a centerfill. Thecenterfill comprises at least one therapeutic agent, and may be a liquidor semi-liquid material. The centerfill material can be a syntheticpolymer, a semi-synthetic polymer, low-fat, or fat free and contain oneor more sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents, and/orscenting agents. Preferably, the centerfill includes a binary or ternarybuffer system as described herein.

In certain other instances, the lozenge composition of the presentinvention is multilayered. In this way, the lozenge can be designed toprovide more than one therapeutic agent, e.g., two or more thetherapeutic agents, or one or more the therapeutic agent derived from afirst gram-positive bacteria, in combination with one or moretherapeutic agents derived from a second gram-positive bacteria. Forexample, with a bi-layered lozenge, the first layer contains may containa first therapeutic agent derived from Lactobacillus, and the secondlayer contains the same or different therapeutic agent or therapeuticagent derived from the same or a second gram-positive bacteria, such asa naturally-occurring CpG ODN or a motif thereof. Typically, the firstlayer comprises the dissolving portion of the lozenge, and the second(i.e., subsequent) layer is coated by the first layer. This type offormulation may be particularly suitable when immediate release of thetherapeutic agent, followed by gastrointestinal absorption of a secondtherapeutic agent, is desirable. Gastrointestinal absorption of thesecond therapeutic agent may be desirable, for example, in order tomitigate co-morbid symptoms or to sustain the therapeutic benefit of theprimary therapeutic agent in the dissolving portion of the lozenge.Alternatively, the second layer is present as a layer lateral to thefirst layer. The second layer typically comprises at least onetherapeutic agent, and can also comprise one or more sweetening agents,flavoring agents, coloring agents, and scenting agents as describedabove. In some instances, the second layer further includes a buffersystem as described herein.

In still other instances, the combination of the therapeutic agents withor without non-bacterial therapeutic agents need not take the form of amultilayered lozenge, but instead comprises a single homogenous lozengelayer. This type of formulation may also be used in the case wheregastrointestinal absorption of at least one therapeutic agent isdesirable. In this case, the relative extent of ionization of the two ormore therapeutic agents determines how they are to be absorbed. Forexample, those therapeutic agents that are un-ionized are absorbedthrough the oral mucosa, while the ionized agents are swallowed forgastrointestinal absorption.

The lozenge compositions can have any desired shape, size, and texture.For example, the lozenge can have the shape of a stick, tab, pellet,sphere, and the like. Similarly, the lozenge can be any desirable color.For example, the lozenge can be any shade of red, blue, green, orange,yellow, violet, indigo, and mixtures thereof, and can be color coded toindicate the type and dosage of the therapeutic agent therein. Thelozenges can be individually wrapped or grouped together in pieces forpackaging by methods well known in the art.

In addition to the preferred dosage forms described above, thecompositions of the present invention can also take to form of asolution formulation for delivery of a therapeutic agent as describedherein across the oral mucosa. For example, the solution formulation canbe administered sublingually by using a two-chamber syringe deliverysystem, in which the upper chamber contains an unbuffered therapeuticagent solution, the lower chamber contains the dry buffer systemcomponents, and a non-permeable membrane separates the upper and lowerchambers. Depressing the syringe ruptures the non-permeable membrane andallows mixing of the unbuffered therapeutic agent solution with the drybuffer system components. The resulting buffered therapeutic agentsolution is then released from the tip of the syringe. As such, bysimply placing the tip of the syringe anywhere underneath a subject'stongue and depressing the syringe, a solution formulation of the presentinvention can be used to deliver the active therapeutic compositionacross the subject's sublingual mucosa.

Accordingly, the present invention further provides a composition fordelivery of a therapeutic composition across the oral mucosa of asubject for the treatment of a hepatic disease and/or disorder, thecomposition comprising: (a) a gram-positive bacteria extract, lysate, ora pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, preferably from theLactobacillus species of gram-positive bacteria; (b) anaturally-occurring immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide; (c) anoptional, active agent promoter; and, optionally, (d) a buffer systemcomprising a carbonate salt and/or a bicarbonate salt, wherein thebuffer system raises the pH of saliva to a pH greater than about 9.9irrespective of the starting pH of saliva. Preferably, the compositionis a solution that is prepared just prior to administration to the oralmucosa. In certain preferred embodiments, the buffer system comprisessodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate wherein the ratio of sodiumbicarbonate to sodium carbonate ranges from about 1:1 to about 5:1 byweight. In other embodiments, sodium carbonate is used in an amount thatis equivalent to, or in excess of sodium bicarbonate. More particularly,the compositions are those that provide peak plasma levels of the activeingredient in less than 15 minutes (e.g, about 1 to about 15 minutes),preferably in about 5 minutes to about 10 minutes.

D. Methods of Administration

The compositions of the present invention are useful in therapeuticapplications, e.g., for treating immune diseases or disorders, includinghepatic diseases or disorders, such as hepatitis A, B and/or C, insubjects in need of such treatment. The methods of the present inventionare useful in the treatment of a variety of hepatic disorders, inparticular those characterized by an associated link with thealternative pathway in the complement system of the subject. Therefore,according to the present disclosure, a hepatic disorder is any liverdisease or disorder in the liver or the surrounding vasculature. Forexample, the methods and compositions of the present invention areuseful in the treatment of a variety of hepatic disorders, includingthose resulting from infection, iatrogenic disorders, hereditarydisorders, autoimmune disorders, cholestatic syndromes, sarcoidosis,organ transplantation, hepatic cancer, and the like.

Diseases or disorders within the scope of the present disclosureinclude, but are not limited to, the diseases and disorders detailed inTable 1.

TABLE 1 Systemic Diseases and Disorders Involving Liver Inflammation A.Hepatitis 1. Any inflammation of the liver, as for example in acutehepatitis, chronic hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. 2.Infection Any inflammation of the liver resulting from infection,especially viral infection, especially chronic viral hepatitis, forexample inflammation associated with: a) Hepatitis A, picorna virus, b)Hepatitis B, hepadna virus (hepatocellular carcinoma), c) Hepatitis C,flavivirus, d) Hepatitis D (Δ), incomplete RNA virus (requiresco-infection with hepatitis B), e) Hepatitis E, single stranded,positive sense RNA genome, f) Hepatitis F, g) Hepatitis G (HGBV-C)single stranded RNA virus, h) Epstein-Barr virus, i) cytelomegalovirus,j) adenovirus, k) other viral infections of the liver 3. Autoimmune Anyinflammation of the liver associated with autoimmune onset of known orunknown etiology, typically associated with significant lymphocyteinfiltration in the portal tracts and associated piecemeal necrosis. 4.Iatrogenic Any drug induced liver inflammation, including for examplechronic active hepatitis, cholestasis or granuloma formation. 5.Hereditary Any inflammation associated with gene-linked trait, forexample cirrhotic changes in the liver associated with hepatolenticulardegeneration, a) Wilson's disease b) α 1-antitrypsin deficiency c) otherinherited metabolic disorders, for example, galactosemia. B. CholestaticSyndromes Any inflammation of the intrahepatic bile ducts, includingthose resulting in hepatic dysfunction and cirrhosis as for example inprimary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and adultidiopathic ductopenia. C. Transplantations Any inflammation of the liveror hepatic ducts including that associated with hepatic transplantation,liver injury in graft versus host disease and recipients of renal andother allografts, for example hyperacute allograft rejection, andxenograft rejection.

Other disorders or diseases that may be prevented, ameliorated, and/ortreated with the compositions of the present invention include cancerand tumors within a subject. The term “cancer” as used herein refers toa malignant neoplasm that has undergone characteristic anaplasia withloss of differentiation, increase rate of growth, invasion ofsurrounding tissue, and is capable of metastasis. For example, thyroidcancer is a malignant neoplasm that arises in or from thyroid tissue,and breast cancer is a malignant neoplasm that arises in or from breasttissue (such as a ductal carcinoma). Residual cancer is cancer thatremains in a subject after any form of treatment given to the subject toreduce or eradicate thyroid cancer. Metastatic cancer is a cancer at oneor more sites in the body other than the site of origin of the original(primary) cancer from which the metastatic cancer is derived. Cancerincludes, but is not limited to, solid tumors.

The term “tumor” as used herein refers to an abnormal growth of cells,which can be benign or malignant. Cancer is a malignant tumor, which ischaracterized by abnormal or uncontrolled cell growth. Other featuresoften associated with malignancy include metastasis, interference withthe normal functioning of neighboring cells, release of cytokines orother secretory products at abnormal levels and suppression oraggravation of inflammatory or immunological response, invasion ofsurrounding or distant tissues or organs, such as lymph nodes, etc.“Metastatic disease” refers to cancer cells that have left the originaltumor site and migrate to other parts of the body for example via thebloodstream or lymph system.

The amount of a tumor in an individual is the “tumor burden” which canbe measured as the number, volume, or weight of the tumor. A tumor thatdoes not metastasize is referred to as “benign.” A tumor that invadesthe surrounding tissue and/or can metastasize is referred to as“malignant.” Examples of hematological tumors include leukemias,including acute leukemias (such as 11q23-positive acute leukemia, acutelymphocytic leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenousleukemia and myeloblastic, promyelocytic, myelomonocytic, monocytic anderythroleukemia), chronic leukemias (such as chronic myelocytic(granulocytic) leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and chroniclymphocytic leukemia), polycythemia vera, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease,non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (indolent and high grade forms), multiplemyeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, heavy chain disease,myelodysplastic syndrome, hairy cell leukemia and myelodysplasia.

Examples of solid tumors, such as sarcomas and carcinomas, include butare not limited to fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma,chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, and other sarcomas, synovioma,mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, coloncarcinoma, lymphoid malignancy, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer(including basal breast carcinoma, ductal carcinoma and lobular breastcarcinoma), lung cancers, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer,hepatocellular carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma,adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma,papillary thyroid carcinoma, pheochromocytomas sebaceous glandcarcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas, medullarycarcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, hepatoma, bileduct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, Wilms' tumor, cervical cancer,testicular tumor, seminoma, bladder carcinoma, and CNS tumors (such as aglioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, craniopharyrgioma, ependymoma,pinealoma, hemangioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, oligodendroglioma,meningioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma and retinoblastoma). In severalexamples, a tumor is melanoma, lung cancer, lymphoma breast cancer orcolon cancer.

The compositions described herein, when used in the treatment of one ormore cancer types, or tumors, may optionally include, or be combinedwith, one or more other anti-cancer agents, or compounds. Suchanti-cancer agents include, but are not limited to: 20-epi-1,25dihydroxyvitamin D3; 5-ethynyluracil; abiraterone; aclarubicin;acylfulvene; adecypenol; adozelesin; aldesleukin; ALL-TK antagonists;altretamine; ambamustine; amidox; amifostine; aminolevulinic acid;amrubicin; amsacrine; anagrelide; anastrozole; andrographolide;angiogenesis inhibitors; antagonist D; antagonist G; antarelix;anti-dorsalizing morphogenetic protein-1; antiandrogen, prostaticcarcinoma; antiestrogen; antineoplaston; antisense oligonucleotides;aphidicolin glycinate; apoptosis gene modulators; apoptosis regulators;apurinic acid; ara-CDP-DL-PTBA; arginine deaminase; asulacrine;atamestane; atrimustine; axinastatin 1; axinastatin 2; axinastatin 3;azasetron; azatoxin; azatyrosine; baccatin III derivatives; balanol;batimastat; BCR/ABL antagonists; benzochlorins; benzoylstaurosporine;beta lactam derivatives; beta-alethine; betaclamycin B; betulinic acid;bFGF inhibitor; bicalutamide; bisantrene; bisaziridinylspermine;bisnafide; bistratene A; bizelesin; breflate; bropirimine; budotitane;buthionine sulfoximine; calcipotriol; calphostin C; camptothecinderivatives; canarypox IL-2; capecitabine; carboxamide-amino-triazole;carboxyamidotriazole; CaRest M3; CARN 700; cartilage derived inhibitor;carzelesin; casein kinase inhibitors (ICOS); castanospermine; cecropinB; cetrorelix; chlorins; chloroquinoxaline sulfonamide; cicaprost;cis-porphyrin; cladribine; clomifene analogues; clotrimazole;collismycin A; collismycin B; combretastatin A-4 (includingcombretastatin A-4 diphosphate); combretastatin analogues; conagenin;crambescidin 816; crisnatol; cryptophycin 8; cryptophycin A derivatives;curacin A; cyclopentanthraquinones; cycloplatam; cypemycin; cytarabineocfosfate; cytolytic factor; cytostatin; dacliximab; decitabine;dehydrodidemnin B; deslorelin; dexamethasone; dexifosfamide;dexrazoxane; dexverapamil; diaziquone; didemnin B; didox;diethylnorspermine; dihydro-5-azacytidine; dihydrotaxol, 9-; dioxamycin;diphenyl spiromustine; docetaxel; docosanol; dolasetron; doxifluridine;droloxifene; dronabinol; duocarmycin SA; ebselen; ecomustine;edelfosine; edrecolomab; eflornithine; elemene; emitefur; epirubicin;epothilone A; epothilone B; epristeride; estramustine analogue; estrogenagonists; estrogen antagonists; etanidazole; etoposide phosphate;exemestane; fadrozole; fazarabine; fenretinide; filgrastim; finasteride;flavopiridol; flezelastine; fluasterone; fludarabine; fluorodaunorunicinhydrochloride; forfenimex; formestane; fostriecin; fotemustine;gadolinium texaphyrin; gallium nitrate; galocitabine; ganirelix;gelatinase inhibitors; gemcitabine; glutathione inhibitors; HMG CoAreductase inhibitors (e.g., atorvastatin, cerivastatin, fluvastatin,lescol, lupitor, lovastatin, rosuvasiatin, and simvastatin); hepsulfam;heregulin; hexamethylene bisacetamide; hypericin; ibandronic add;idarubicin; idoxifene; idramantone; ilmofosine; ilomastat;imidazoacridones; imiquimod; immunostimulant peptides; insulin-likegrowth factor-1 receptor inhibitor; interferon agonists; interferons;interleukins; iobenguane; iododoxorubicin; ipomeanol, 4-; iroplact;irsogladine; isobengazole; isohomohalicondrin B; itasetron;jasplakinolide; kahalalide F; lamellarin-N triacetate; lanreotide;leinamycin; lenograstim; lentinan sulfate; leptolstatin; letrozole;leukemia inhibiting factor; leukocyte alpha interferon;leuprolide+estrogen+progesterone; leuprorelin; levamisole; LFA-3TIP(Biogen, Cambridge, Mass.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,432); liarozole; linearpolyamine analogue; lipophilic disaccharide peptide; lipophilic platinumcompounds; lissoclinamide 7; lobaplatin; lombricine; lometrexol; islonidamine; losoxantrone; lovastatin; loxoribine; lurtotecan; lutetiumtexaphyrin; lysofylline; lytic peptides; maitansine; mannostatin A;marimastat; masoprocol; maspin; matrilysin inhibitors; matrixmetalloproteinase inhibitors; menogaril; merbarone; meterelin;methioninase; metoclopramide; MWF inhibitor; mifepristone; miltefosine;mirimostim; mismatched double stranded RNA; mitoguazone; mitolactol;mitomycin analogues; mitonafide; mitotoxin fibroblast growthfactor-saporin; mitoxantrone; mofarotene; molgramostim; monoclonalantibody, human chorionic gonadotrophin; monophosphoryl-lipidA+myobacterium cell wall sk; mopidamol; multiple drug resistance geneinhibitor; multiple tumor suppressor 1-based therapy; mustard-typeanticancer agents; mycaperoxide B; mycobacterial cell wall extract;myriaporone; N-acetyldinaline; N-substituted benzamides; nafarelin;nagrestip; naloxone+pentazocine; napavin; naphterpin; nartograstim;nedaplatin; nemorubicin; neridronic acid; neutral endopeptidase;nilutamide; nisamycin; nitric oxide modulators; nitroxide antioxidant;nitrullyn; O6-benzylguanine; octreotide; okicenone; oligonucleotides;onapristone; ondansetron; ondansetron; oracin; oral cytokine inducer;ormaplatin; osaterone; oxaliplatin; oxaunomycin; paclitaxel; paclitaxelanalogues; paclitaxel derivatives; palauamine; palmitoylrhizoxin;pamidronic acid; panaxytriol; panomifene; parabactin; pazelliptine;pegaspargase; peldesine; pentosan polysulfate sodium; pentostatin;pentrozole; perflubron; perfosfamide; perillyl alcohol; phenazinomycin;phenylacetate; phosphatase inhibitors; picibanil; pilocarpinehydrochloride; pirarubicin; piritrexim; placetin A; placetin B;plasminogen activator inhibitor; platinum complex; platinum compounds;platinum-triamine complex; porfimer sodium; porfiromycin; prednisone;propyl bis-acridone; prostaglandin J2; proteasome inhibitors; proteinA-based immune modulator; protein kinase C inhibitor; protein kinase Cinhibitors, microalgal; protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors; purinenucleoside phosphorylase inhibitors; purpurins; pyrazoloacridine;pyridoxylated hemoglobin polyoxyethylene conjugate; raf antagonists;raltitrexed; ramosetron; ras farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors;ras inhibitors; ras-GAP inhibitor; retelliptine demethylated; rhenium Re186 etidronate; rhizoxin; ribozymes; RII retinamide; rogletimide;rohitukine; romurtide; roquinimex; rubiginone B 1; ruboxyl; safingol;saintopin; SarCNU; sarcophytol A; sargramostim; Sdi 1 mimetics;semustine; senescence derived inhibitor 1; sense oligonucleotides;signal transduction inhibitors; signal transduction modulators; singlechain antigen binding protein; sizofiran; sobuzoxane; sodiumborocaptate; sodium phenylacetate; solverol; somatomedin bindingprotein; sonermin; sparfosic acid; spicamycin D; spiromustine;splenopentin; spongistatin 1; squalamine; sterm cell inhibitor;stem-cell division inhibitors; stipiamide; stromelysin inhibitors;sulfinosine; superactive vasoactive intestinal peptide antagonist;suradista; suramin; swainsonine; synthetic glycosaminoglycans;tallimustine; 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); leucovorin; tamoxifen methiodide;tauromustine; tazarotene; tecogalan sodium; tegafur; tellurapyrylium;telomerase inhibitors; temoporfin; temozolomide; teniposide;tetrachlorodecaoxide; tetrazomine; thaliblastine; thiocoraline;thrombopoietin; thrombopoietin mimetic; thymalfasin; thymopoietinreceptor agonist; thymotrinan; thyroid stimulating hormone; tin ethyletiopurpurin; tirapazanline; titanocene bichloride; topsentin;toremifene; totipotent stem cell factor; translation inhibitors;tretinoin; triacetyluridine; triciribine; trimetrexate; triptorelin;tropisetron; turosteride; tyrosine kinase inhibitors; tyrphostins; UBCinhibitors; ubenimex; urogenital sinus-derived growth inhibitory factor;urokinase receptor antagonists; vapreotide; variolin B; vector system,erythrocyte gene therapy; thalidomide; velaresol; veramine; verdins;verteporfin; vinorelbine; vinxaltine; vorozole; zanoterone; zeniplatin;zilascorb; and zinostatin stimalamer.

Still another disorder that may be treatable with the compositions ofthe present invention includes Lyme disease and other tick-borneinfections, including anemia caused by Babesia microti, Ehrlichiosis,tularemia (such as that caused by Francisella tularensis) and diseasescaused by Rikettsia rickettsii.

Particularly preferred disorders within the context of the invention arechronic hepatitis particularly hepatitis resulting from infection,particularly viral infection. Included in this category are theestablished serological categories of chronic hepatitis, including viral(HBV, HDV, HCV), autoimmune hepatitis (classic lupoid type andsubtypes), autoimmune overlap syndromes, drug induced (for examplenitrofurantoin, alpha methyldopa, isoniazid) and so-called “cryptogenic”hepatitis In this regard, the skilled artisan will make reference tochapters 8 and 9, and especially Tables 9.2 and 9.3 in “McSween'sPathology of the Liver, 5th Edition (Id.). As the skilled artisan willrecognize, some chronic liver diseases not included within thedefinition of chronic hepatitis may have histological features ofchronic hepatitis (for example, piecemeal necrosis). These disorderssuch as, for example, diseases of intra or extrahepatic bile ducts, areincluded within the definition herein. Infection with a number ofviruses is known to result in serious inflammation of the liverincluding the hepatitis viruses, hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV),hepatitis C(HCV), hepatitis D (HDV, delta agent) hepatitis E, hepatitisF and other viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus,adenovirus, paramyovirus, and the like. At least seven types ofhepatitis virus (designated A-G) have been identified to date. Of these,one of the most devastating is hepatitis C virus (HCV, also callednon-A, non-B). An estimated 3.9 million people in the US are currentlyinfected with HCV, and an estimated 8,000-10,000 deaths each year resultfrom HCV-associated chronic liver disease. Current therapies includeγ-interferon, emphasize B and ribivirin, each of which have limitedefficacy and serious side effects on the patients. Current therapy alsoincludes transplantation, however, since the infected individual remainsinfected with the virus, post-transplant immunosuppressed patientsexhibit increased viral RNA levels and often rapidly progress to liverdisease with the new liver.

Chronic cholestatic syndromes are characterized by progressiveinflammatory destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts resulting in hepaticdysfunction, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Examples of this type of disorderinclude primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis andadult idiopathic ductopenia.

Hereditary disorders treatable by the methods disclosed herein includethose inflammatory disorders associated with a gene-linked trait.Examples include but are not limited to Wilson's disease, α1-antitrypsindeficiency and inherited metabolic disorders such as galactosemia andtyrosineanemia.

Importantly, the compositions of the present invention provide the rapiddelivery of an active therapeutic agent composition of the presentdisclosure across the oral mucosa, irrespective of the starting pH ofsaliva. In particular, the delivery of the therapeutic agent across theoral mucosa avoids hepatic first pass metabolism, degradation within thegastrointestinal tract, and therapeutic agent loss during absorption. Asa result, the therapeutic agent reaches the systemic circulation in asubstantially shorter period of time and at a substantially higherconcentration than with traditional oral (e.g., tablet) administration.

The compositions of the present invention have particular utility in thearea of human and veterinary therapeutics. Generally, administereddosages will be effective to deliver picomolar to micromolarconcentrations of the active composition to the appropriate site.

Administration of the compositions of the present invention maypreferably carried out via any of the accepted modes of administrationto the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. Examples of suitable sitesof administration within the oral mucosa include, without limitation,the mucous membranes of the floor of the mouth (sublingual mucosa), thecheeks (buccal mucosa), the gums (gingival mucosa), the roof of themouth (palatal mucosa), the lining of the lips, and combinationsthereof. These regions differ from each other with respect to theiranatomy, drug permeability, and physiological response to drugs.Preferably, the compositions of the present invention are administeredto the sublingual mucosa, buccal mucosa, or a combination thereof.

The oral mucosa, possessing a rich blood supply and suitable drugpermeability, is an especially attractive route of administration forsystemic delivery of therapeutic agents. Furthermore, delivery of atherapeutic agent across the oral mucosa bypasses hepatic first passmetabolism, avoids enzymatic degradation within the gastrointestinaltract, and provides a more suitable enzymatic flora for drug absorption.As used herein, the term “sublingual delivery” refers to theadministration of a therapeutic agent across the mucous membranes liningthe floor of the mouth and/or the ventral tongue. The term “buccaldelivery” as used herein refers to the administration of a therapeuticagent across the mucous membranes lining the cheeks.

The oral mucosa is composed of an outermost layer of stratified squamousepithelium. Beneath this layer lies a basement membrane, i.e., thelamina propria, followed by the submucosa as the innermost layer. Theepithelium of the oral mucosa is similar to the stratified squamousepithelia found in the rest of the body in that it contains amitotically active basal cell layer, advancing through a number ofdifferentiating intermediate layers to the superficial layers, wherecells are shed from the surface of the epithelium. For example, theepithelium of the buccal mucosa is about 40-50 cell layers thick, whilethat of the sublingual epithelium contains somewhat fewer cell layers.The epithelial cells increase in size and become flatter as they travelfrom the basal layers to the superficial layers.

The turnover time for buccal mucosal epithelium, estimated at 5-6 days,is representative of the turnover time for sublingual mucosal epitheliumas well as other epithelia in the oral mucosa [Harris, et al., J. Pharm.Sci, Vol. 81, pp. 1-10 (1992)]. The thickness of the oral mucosa variesdepending on the site in the oral cavity. For example, the buccal mucosameasures at about 500-800 μm in thickness, while the hard and softpalatal mucosa, the sublingual mucosa, the ventral tongue, and thegingival mucosa measure at about 100-200 μm in thickness. Thecomposition of the epithelium also varies depending on the site in theoral cavity. For example, the mucosae of areas subject to mechanicalstress (i.e., the gingivae and hard palate) are keratinized similar tothe epidermis. However, the mucosae of the soft palate, the sublingualregion, and the buccal region are not keratinized [Harris et al.,supra]. The keratinized epithelia contain neutral lipids like ceramidesand acylceramides, which have been associated with providing a barrierfunction. As a result, these epithelia are relatively impermeable towater. In contrast, non-keratinized epithelia, such as sublingual andbuccal epithelia, do not contain acylceramides and have only smallamounts of ceramide [Wertz, et al., Crit. Rev. Ther. Drug Carr. Sys.,Vol. 8, pp. 237-269 (1991); Squier, et al., J. Invest. Dermat., Vol. 96,pp. 123-126 (1991); Squier, et al., in “Oral Mucosal Drug Delivery,” Ed.M. J. Rathbone, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., pp. 1-26 (1996)].Non-keratinized epithelia also contain small amounts of neutral butpolar lipids, e.g., cholesterol sulfate and glucosyl ceramides. As such,these epithelia have been found to be considerably more permeable towater than keratinized epithelia.

In general, the oral mucosa is a somewhat leaky epithelia intermediatebetween that of the epidermis and intestinal mucosa. For example, thepermeability of the buccal mucosa is estimated to be about 4-4000 timesgreater than that of skin [Galey, et al., J. Invest. Dermat., 67:713-717(1976)]. The permeability of different regions of the oral mucosagenerally decrease in the order of sublingual mucosa greater than buccalmucosa, and buccal mucosa greater than palatal mucosa. This permeabilityis generally based upon the relative thickness and degree ofkeratinization of these membranes, with the sublingual mucosa beingrelatively thin and non-keratinized, the buccal mucosa being thicker andnon-keratinized, and the palatal mucosa being intermediate in thickness,but keratinized.

The epithelial cells of the oral mucosa are surrounded by mucuscomprising primarily complexes of proteins and carbohydrates that may ormay not be attached to certain regions on the cell surface. The mucusmay play a role in cell-cell adhesion, as well as acting as a lubricant,allowing cells to move relative to one another [Tabak et al., J. OralPathol., 11:1-17 (1982)]. In stratified squamous epithelia foundelsewhere in the body, mucus is synthesized by specialized mucussecreting cells such as goblet cells; however, in the oral mucosa, mucusis secreted by the major and minor salivary glands as part of saliva[Tabak, et al., supra; Rathbone, et al., Adv. Drug Del. Rev., 13:1-22(1994)]. At physiological pH, the mucus network carries a negativecharge due to the sialic acid and sulfate residues present on thecarbohydrates. At this pH, mucus can form a strongly cohesive gelstructure that binds to the epithelial cell surface as a gelatinouslayer. Without being bound to any particular theory, the buffer systemsof the present invention neutralize the sialic acid residues present onthe carbohydrates and prevent them from interacting with the therapeuticagent, thereby further enhancing drug permeation.

Another feature of the environment of the oral cavity is the presence ofsaliva produced by the salivary glands. Saliva is the protective fluidfor all tissues of the oral cavity. Saliva is an aqueous fluid withabout 1% organic and inorganic materials. The major determinant of thesalivary composition is the flow rate, which in turn depends uponfactors such as the time of day, the type of stimulus, and the degree ofstimulation. The salivary pH typically ranges from about 5.5 to about7.0, depending on the flow rate. For example, at high flow rates, thesodium and bicarbonate concentrations increase, leading to an increasein the pH. Because the daily salivary volume is between about 0.5 toabout 2 liters, the oral cavity provides an aqueous environment for thehydration and/or dissolution of the oral mucosal dosage forms of thepresent invention.

The sublingual mucosa is the most highly permeable region of the oralcavity, and provides rapid absorption and high bioavailability of a drugin a convenient, accessible, and well-accepted route of administration[Harris, et al., supra]. Suitable sublingual dosage forms include,without limitation, tablets (e.g., quick-dissolving, slow-dissolving),lozenges, candy, and soft gelatin capsules filled with liquid drug. Suchsystems create a very high drug concentration in the sublingual regionbefore they are systemically absorbed across the sublingual mucosa. As aresult, the sublingual mucosa is particularly well-suited for producinga rapid onset of action, and sublingual dosage forms can be used todeliver drugs with shorter delivery period requirements and/or lessfrequent dosing regimens. Although the buccal mucosa is considerablyless permeable than the sublingual area, rapid absorption and highbioavailability of a drug can also be observed with buccaladministration. Suitable buccal dosage forms include, withoutlimitation, chewing gums, tablets (e.g., quick-dissolving,slow-dissolving), lozenges, candy, and the like. Both the buccal mucosaand the sublingual mucosa are far superior to the gastrointestinal tractfor providing increased absorption and bioavailability of a drug.

To increase the permeability of drugs through the oral mucosa,penetration enhancers can be included in the dosage forms of the presentinvention. The penetration enhancers may be of the type that alters thenature of the oral mucosa to enhance penetration, or of the type thatalters the nature of the therapeutic agent to enhance penetrationthrough the oral mucosa. Suitable penetration enhancers include, withoutlimitation, polyoxyethylene 23-lauryl ether, aprotin, azone,benzalkonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide, cyclodextrin, dextran sulfate, lauric acid, propylene glycol,lysophosphatidylcholine, menthol, methoxysalicylate, methyloleate, oleicacid; phosphatidylcholine, polyoxyethylene, polysorbate 80, sodiumethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (“EDTA”), sodium deoxycholate, sodiumglycocholate, sodium glycodeoxycholate, sodium lauryl suflate, sodiumsalicylate, sodium taurocholate, sodium taurodeoxycholate, as well ascertain sulfoxides and glycosides, and combinations thereof.

It should be noted that while delivery through the oral mucosa ispreferred in accordance with the present disclosure, any method ofdelivery that delivers the active therapeutic agent to the mucosal wallwhere it can begin to act therapeutically is envisioned, suchalternative mucosal delivery formulations including but not limited tosuppositories (both rectal and vaginal), sprays (both oral and nasal),subdermal implants, and controlled release capsules that allow theformulation to move past the stomach region of the patient, e.g., pHcontrolled release capsules.

While not wishing to be limited or restricted by theory, it is believedthat the naturally-occurring CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) havethe potential to enhance the antigen-presenting cells function of humannative B cells, particularly those for different Hepatic viruses, suchas Hepatitis B virus (HBV) epitopes, as shown through binding capacitystudies. These results could suggest new strategies for development ofvaccine design, and provide a less toxic therapeutic regimen forpatients in need thereof.

The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodimentsof the inventions. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the artthat the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow representtechniques discovered by the inventors to function well in the practiceof the inventions, and thus can be considered to constitute preferredmodes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, inlight of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can bemade in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain alike or similar result without departing from the scope of theinventions.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Active Ingredient Composition Preparation

In order to prepare an exemplary formulation as described hereinsuitable for therapeutic testing and further cell line testing, such asin screening tests and subject testing.

Active Ingredient. The active ingredient is a gram positive bacteria,such as described herein above. In example, Lactobacillus delbrueckii,ssp. Bulgaricus was used, employing a fermentation and cell isolationprocess as carried out by Kerry Ingredients & Flavours (Beloit, Wis.)and as described generally below.

Fermentation. Cells of a gram positive bacteria, Lactobacillusdelbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus, was fermented in 500 L of an appropriatemedia for approximately 120 hours.

Cell Isolation. The 500 L of broth was centrifuged and the resultantcell mass was washed three times with DI water. This producedapproximately 60 kg of wet cell mass.

Lysing and Purification. The wet cell mass was reconstituted and the pHis adjusted to 6.8-7.0. Lysozyme chloride (extracted from hen eggwhites) was added to make a solution with a concentration of 500 ppm oflysozyme chloride. The slurry was agitated and the temperature ismaintained at 40-50° C. for 24 hours. After lysing, the activecomponents were in the liquid phase. This liquid material containing thewater soluble active components was recovered through centrifugation toremove the solid material, and then washed three times with DI water.The resultant mixture was frozen in pellets and the remaining solidmaterial in the centrifuge was discarded.

Formulation. The frozen pellets were freeze dried to form a dry powderand milled, as necessary. This material was blended with a promoter,such as N-acetyl D-glucosamine HCl (NAG), to form a mixture of lysedLactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus and NAG. Optionally, otherformulation excipients to generate a solid form pill or powder wereadded, as appropriate. This product was then used in the followingscreening tests.

Example 2 TLR Screening

TLR stimulation was tested by assessing NF-κB activation in HEK293 cellsexpressing a given TLR or NLR. The activities of the samples were testedon seven different human TLRs: TLR2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 (Invivogen, SanDiego, Calif.), and on two different human NLRs (NOD1 and NOD2). Eachligand was tested at a final concentration of 1/100 of the stocksolution on the TLR or NLR cells, and compared to control ligands, asdescribed below. This step was performed in triplicate.

The control ligands, control cell lines, and sample product used in theexamples were as shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Control ligands and control cell line information used in ligandscreening tests. Control Ligands TLR2: HKLM (heat-killed Listeriamonocytogenes) at 10⁸ cells/mL. TLR3: Poly(I:C) at 1 μg/mL TLR4: E. coliK12 LPS at 100 ng/mL TLR5: TLR7: CL097 at 1 μg/mL TLR8: CL075 at 1 μg/mLTLR9: CpG ODN 2006 at 100 ng/mL NOD1: C12iEDAP at 10 μg/mL NOD2: L18-MDPat 100 ng/mL Control Cell HEK293/Null1: TNFα at 1 μg/mL Lines (controlfor human TLR 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 and NOD 1) HEK293/Null1-k: TNFα at 1 μg/mL(control for human TLR7) HEK293/Null2: TNFα at 1 μg/mL (control forhuman TLR4 and NOD2) Sample Lysate of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp.Bulgaricus ( 1/10 dilution prepared in sterile, endotoxin-free water)

General Procedure.

TLR stimulation in the screening is tested by assessing NF-κB activationin the HEK293 cells expressing a given TLR. The secreted alkalinephosphatase reporter is under the control of a promoter inducible by thetranscription factor NF-κB. TLR stimulation in the screening was testedby assessing NF-κB activation in the HEK293 cells expressing a given TLRor NLR. This reporter gene allows the monitoring of signaling throughthe TLR/NLR, based on the activation of NF-κB. In a 96-well plate (200μL total volume) containing the appropriate cells (50,000-75,000cells/well), 20 μL of the Sample (lysate product) or the positivecontrol ligands to the wells. The media added to the wells is designedfor the detection of NF-κB induced SEAP (secreted alkaline phosphatase)expression. After a 16-20 hr incubation, the OD (optical density) at 650nm was read on an Molecular Devices Spectra Max 340PC absorbancedetector and recorded.

The screening results of these experiments are shown graphically in FIG.3, and in the screening data result tables shown in FIG. 5. Control cellline comparisons are shown graphically in FIG. 4, and in the data shownin the summary tables of FIG. 6. In view of these results, it is clearthat the lysate sample tested activates human TLR2, 4 and NOD2 at a1/100 concentration.

Other and further embodiments utilizing one or more aspects of theinventions described above can be devised without departing from thespirit of Applicant's invention. For example, the compositions mayinclude one or more synthetic CpG ODN's, such as thecommercially-available Genasense or IMOxine®, in addition to the atleast one naturally-occurring CpG ODN and the bacteria lysate fraction.Further, the various methods and embodiments of the methods ofmanufacture and assembly of the system, as well as locationspecifications, can be included in combination with each other toproduce variations of the disclosed methods and embodiments. Discussionof singular elements can include plural elements and vice-versa.

The order of steps can occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwisespecifically limited. The various steps described herein can be combinedwith other steps, interlineated with the stated steps, and/or split intomultiple steps. Similarly, elements have been described functionally andcan be embodied as separate components or can be combined intocomponents having multiple functions.

The inventions have been described in the context of preferred and otherembodiments and not every embodiment of the invention has beendescribed. Obvious modifications and alterations to the describedembodiments are available to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thedisclosed and undisclosed embodiments are not intended to limit orrestrict the scope or applicability of the invention conceived of by theApplicants, but rather, in conformity with the patent laws, Applicantsintend to fully protect all such modifications and improvements thatcome within the scope or range of equivalent of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition for delivery of a therapeutic agentacross the mucosa of a subject for the treatment of a hepatic disorder,the composition comprising: (a) a lysate or cell wall extract derivedfrom or isolated from one or more gram-positive bacteria, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (b) a naturally-occurringimmunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN); wherein the cell walllysate and the ODN are present in an amount effective to treat an immunedisorder.
 2. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a controlrelease agent, a promoter, a carrier, or a combination thereof.
 3. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the gram positive bacteria is selectedfrom the group consisting of Bacillus coagulans (Lactobacillussporogenes) Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis(especially B. animalis, subspecies animalis), Bifidobacterium infantis,Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillusacidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillusdelbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus lactissubsp. lactis (Streptococcus lactis), Streptococcus thermophilus,Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillusacidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillusrhamnosus, and Lactobacillus helveticus, and combinations thereof. 4.The composition of claim 2, wherein the promoter is selected from thegroup consisting of amino acids, amino sugars, and sugars.
 5. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the gram positive bacteria isLactobacillus delbrueckii.
 6. A composition for the treatment ofcomplications of a hepatic disorder in a subject suffering from one ormore hepatic disorders, the composition comprising a therapeuticallyeffective amount of: a lysate or cell wall extract derived from orisolated from one or more gram-positive bacteria, or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof; and at least one Toll Like receptor (TLR) 9agonist, the gram-positive bacteria being selected from theLactobacillus family of bacteria.
 7. The composition of claim 6, whereinthe TLR 9 agonist is a CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN).
 8. Thecomposition of claim 7, wherein the CpG ODN is naturally-occurringwithin the bacterial lysate.
 9. The composition according to claim 6,wherein the hepatic disorder is characterized by overexpression of TLR 9and one or more of TLR 2, TLR 4 and TLR
 7. 10. The composition of claim1, wherein the composition is a dosage form selected from the groupconsisting of a lozenge, a chewing gum, a chewable tablet, a candy, anda dissolving tablet.
 11. The composition of claim 10, wherein thedissolving tablet is selected from the group consisting of aslow-dissolving tablet and a quick-dissolving tablet.
 12. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the mucosa is selected from the groupconsisting of the oral mucosa, sublingual mucosa, the buccal mucosa, anda combination thereof.
 13. The composition of claim 1, furthercomprising a chemotherapeutic agent.
 14. The composition of claim 1,wherein the composition exhibits a modulation of at least one Toll Likereceptors (TLRs) in a subject to whom the composition is administered.15. The composition of claim 14, wherein the TLR modulated is chosenfrom TLR 2, TLR 4, TLR 7 and TLR
 9. 16. A dietary supplement comprisingthe composition of claim
 1. 17. A method of inducing an immune responseto a tumor in a subject, the method comprising: selecting a subject witha tumor; and administering to the subject a therapeutically effectiveamount of a composition comprising: (a) a lysate or cell wall extractderived from or isolated from one or more gram-positive bacteria, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (b) a naturally-occurringCpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), thereby inducing the immune response tothe tumor in the subject.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein thenaturally-occurring CpG oligodeoxynucleotide is derived from a bacteriallysate.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the CpG ODN is selected fromthe group consisting of the C-type, D-type, or K-type CpG ODN.
 20. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the immune response comprises the productionof antibodies.